Giving Thanks For Henry and The Dog From Newfoundland

THE LEGEND OF THE NEWFOUNDLAND DOG "There is a land where the waves explode upon the reef in a boiling foam, there the legend was born. As the story is told, God turned one day to contemplate all of his creations and saw on that Newfoundland Isle, flailed by storm a small nation of fishermen, whose rough, weather-beaten people fought courageously against the impervious elements of nature as the freezing cold winter and the unforgiving coastline took its toll, and the sea often asked the sacrifice of human life. Nevertheless, they remained deep-rooted, these men of Newfoundland with the stubbornness as great as their courage. God saw, and in his infinite compassion, thought how he might alleviate their suffering. He searched among the creatures of his creations but found none that would serve. It was then he decided to create one anew. He took the body of a bear, whose bone structure lent well to such arduous labours and whose thick fur would resist the bitter Newfoundland cold. Then he thought to sweeten this silhouette with the lithe, flexuous lines and movements of the seal, with all its prowess to swim and speedily slip between the waves. Now turning to the sea, he saw the playful dolphins happily following the ships, their sweet, joy-filled eyes revealing their serene temperament, and more; they so love man that they often rescue them, saving them from the sea. Yes, they too would be part of this creature. When he had done the moulding and casting, there suddenly appeared in his creative arms, a superb animal with glistening black fur; powerful and sweet in the same moment. This new being, however, had to have an allegiance and faithfulness, tried and true, to be able to live beside man and be ever ready to offer his life for his master. It was at that moment that the Lord opened and placed in his chest, the heart of a dog, and the miracle was complete. From that day onward, those men of the sea had beside them, their courageous companion ever strong, ever faithful, the Newfoundland Dog." (Reprinted in translation from the book Il Cane Di Terra Nova by Emmy Bruno, editor Mursia-Milano)

An Officer, A Gentleman and a Newfoundland (Redux)

(As told by Satchel & Andrew)

We wanted to bring you the story of our Grandpa and his first Newfie. Grandpa served for several years in the U.S. Air Force in Italy and the Persian Gulf during World War II. He was a highly decorated Lieutenant and spent much of his time in dangerous reconnaissance work. One of his last assignments came in leading a supply platoon into Russia during the winter of 1944. After successfully getting the supplies into the hands of Russian troops, Grandpa was approached by a young Russian soldier. The soldier had a Newfie puppy and he was being shipped out and could not take the Newfie with him. He pleaded with Grandpa to take the Newfie so that it would have a good home and not face a very uncertain future. Grandpa agreed and the brief encounter between two soldiers was enough for handshakes, hugs, and best wishes to be exchanged.

Only a few weeks later, Grandpa received his orders to return home after years away from Grandma and his family. He had named the puppy "Franny" and was very concerned about how he would get Franny back home with him. After considerable thought, he decided to see if the pilot of the Air Force plane would take some money and store Franny underneath the pilot's seat. The pilot agreed, and Grandpa put Franny in a cardboard box with holes in it so she could breath. He gave her a sleeping pill so that no one else would know of the precious cargo. Well, all went well, and Franny made her way with Grandpa back to Chicago and then on to San Francisco, where she lived until 1958 with two daughters who loved her dearly. Grandpa had brought back a Persian rug he kept in his office overseas. He put it in his basement office at home when he got back, and he and Franny spent many fond hours there curled up on the rug.

Not long after finally getting home, Grandpa wrote a poem to Franny, entitled, "Lines To A Curled Up Franny": "Little Franny, lax and lazy; With a mind extremely hazy; In regard to human cares; Far removed from worldly affairs; There you lie your tail around you; With no Charlotte to hound you; With no taxes to be met; With no spending to regret; There you snuggle on the Persian; Bothered not by reconversion; Void of grief and sacrifice; Dreaming dreams of cats and mice." (Lt. Samuel D. Sayad) (March 30 1913 - July 29 1986)

Henry Arrived Two Years Ago Today

How I love you, baby boy. For ever, for always.

I Am Your Dog

"I am your dog, and I have a little something I would like to whisper in your ear. I know that you humans lead busy lives. Some have to work. Some have children to raise. It always seems like you are running here and there, often much too fast, often never noticing the truly grand things in life. Look down at me now, while you sit there at your computer. See, the way my dark brown eyes look at yours. They are slightly cloudy now. That comes with age. The gray hairs are beginning to ring my soft muzzle. You smile at me; I see love in your eyes. What do you see in mine? Do you see a spirit? A soul inside, who loves you as no other could in the world? A spirit that would forgive all trespasses of prior wrongdoing for just a simple moment of your time? That is all I ask: to slow down, if even for a few minutes to be with me. So many times, you have been saddened by the words you read on that screen, of other of my kind, passing. Sometimes we die young and oh so quickly, sometimes so suddenly it wrenches your heart out of your throat. Sometimes, we age so slowly before your eyes that you may not even seem to know until the very end, when we look at you with grizzled muzzles and cataract clouded eyes. Still the love is always there, even when we must take that long sleep, to run free in a distant land. I may not be here next week. Someday you will shed the water from your eyes, that humans have when deep grief fills their souls, and you will be angry at yourself that you did not have just 'One more day' with me. Because I love you so, your sorrow touches my spirit and grieves me. We have NOW, together. So come, sit down here next to me on the floor, and look deep into my eyes. What do you see? If you look hard and deep enough we will talk, you and I, heart to heart. Come to me not as 'alpha' or as 'trainer' or even 'Mom or Dad, come to me as a living soul and stroke my fur and let us look deep into another's eyes, and talk. I may tell you something about the fun of chasing a tennis ball, or I may tell you something profound about myself or even life in general. You decided to have me in your life because you wanted a soul to share such things with - someone very different from you, and here I am. I am a dog, but I am alive. I feel emotion, I feel physical senses, and I can revel in the differences of our spirits and souls. I do not think of you as a "Dog on two feet"- I know what you are. You are human, in all of your quirkiness, and I love you still. Now, come sit with me on the floor. Enter my world, and let time slow down if only for 15 minutes. Look deep into my eyes, and whisper to my ears. Speak with your heart, with your joy and I will know your true self. We may not have tomorrow, and life is oh so very short."

Henry - Beauté Noire

This Newfoundland Is Training To Be A Lifeguard

(akc.com - August 2022)

If you find yourself at Maine’s Scarborough Beach State Park this summer, you might be greeted by a very special trainee lifeguard: a 16-month-old Newfoundland named Beacon. A group of committed Newfoundland enthusiasts, including Beacon’s owner Greg Wilfert, is working to train more Newfoundlands as canine lifeguards. Natural Ability: Wilfert is a lifeguard at Scarborough Beach State Park, and Beacon accompanies him to work. Dog lifeguard training began early for this puppy. Wilfert explained that when Beacon was 12 weeks old, she started greeting the public at the park. At five months old, she began her formal training. He sees Beacon as “another important tool to keep the public safe.” Beacon trains daily on land and in the water from June to August.

Much of her training has been with the American Academy of Canine Water Rescue. AACWR’s president and founder, Maria E. Gray, Ph.D., notes that “Beacon is an incredible young Newfoundland dog.” A fast learner, Beacon has shown a natural aptitude and interest in being a water rescue dog. “Beacon has amazing drive and rapidly took to the basic water work exercises. She was with us for 45 days and then returned to work with Greg on his beach,” Gray explains. Then for the next stage of her training, “three head instructors from the Academy traveled to the beach in Maine where Greg and Beacon work to train with several other water rescue dogs,” Gray explains. Throughout, Beacon’s drive for the work has increased. A Lifesaving Legacy: Using Newfoundlands as part of a lifeguard team helps preserve these giant pups’ working nature. Historically, Newfoundlands were Canadian fishermen’s working dogs. Newfoundlands were bred to pull fishing nets and boats, and to be strong enough to save adults from drowning. Their natural swimming ability makes this breed a natural choice for the AACWR. Gray says, “They are ideal for water rescue work due to their triple coat, with a layer like goose down close to their skin and an outer coarser layer of fur. This helps their skin to stay relatively dry and allows them to swim in very cold water if needed. They have webs between their toes, which helps their powerful paws to swim and they don’t do a ‘doggie-paddle’—they reach out with their front paws. Their large, droopy jowls allow them to hold a rope or a line in their mouth, while swimming, as it permits the water to pour out the sides of their mouths.”

In addition, Newfoundlands “have tremendous endurance and can swim for miles; they can pull thousands of pounds in the water,” explains Gray. Other breeds like Labrador Retrievers work as water rescue dogs, and Gray notes that any dog of the right size with a strong bond to their handler and a drive to work can be trained to do water rescue. Water rescue dogs primarily serve “as a force-multiplier, allowing the human first responder to conserve their energy for when it is truly needed,” she adds. When working Newfoundlands are deployed alongside a lifeguard, “the dog can pull up to 50 times its body weight in the water, so can be utilized to tow a small boat with passengers if needed.” Canine safety is a priority. “The dogs utilize a specially designed harness which serves as a PFD (personal flotation device) for the dog and allows the lifeguard to ‘ride’ the dog, holding onto handles, which permit a trained dog to be steered,” Gray says. Training Water Rescue Dogs: A lot of training goes into preparing a dog for professional water rescue work. Gray notes that candidates “must have a deep bond with his/her primary handler, basic obedience skills, and a gentle disposition. The dog must exhibit drive and should have joy in working. We seek out dogs that display overt friendliness to humans, even strangers. Dogs that are highly motivated through positive training techniques to learn new skills.” Gray advises that it usually takes anywhere from one to three years before dogs can conduct a rescue with a first responder. Water rescue dogs are continuously training through their working careers. The Academy utilizes what Gray describes as an “instructor dog” to teach student canines more efficiently and effectively. She adds, “There is the human trainer, but we demonstrate to the new dog with one of our top instructor dogs. The dogs can learn from other dogs.” Helicopter Rescues: The AACWR completed its first helicopter deployment training exercises in July 2022. In this mock rescue, highly-trained Newfoundlands jumped out of helicopters to reach people simulating being in distress. Gray says that the AACWR enlisted “our top two instructor dogs” who were capable of doing land to water rescues, which start from the shore with a lifeguard to a person/s in distress, and water-water rescues, which involve “deploying from various types of water crafts.” In advance of this training exercise, the AACWR had trained the pups to fly on helicopters. This included boarding and unloading while the helicopter was on. The AACWR puts significant time and effort into training the dogs to be comfortable around loud sounds and distractions prior to their first flights. The organization conducts these mock rescues in the same style as the Italian School of Water Rescue Dogs, which utilizes Newfoundland helicopter deployments from helicopters as part of working water rescue efforts. Beacon Loves Her Public: When she’s not working, Beacon is a beloved pet and friend to Wilfert. During the summer, the two live across from the beach, and in the winter, they call Carrabassett Valley home. Wilfert explained that Beacon is “a people’s pup.” Extremely outgoing and friendly, Beacon also takes her water rescue work very seriously. If you find yourself at Scarborough State Park, Wilfert encourages you to approach him and ask to meet Beacon. “We encourage meeting and petting; Beacon loves her public!” he says.

The Story of Sergeant Gander - The Brave Newfoundland Who Sacrificed Himself in Battle to Save His Battalion

(Worldnationnews.com)

"Thousands of people have gone down in history in war conflicts to sacrifice themselves to save families, entire communities, battalions and even nations. However, there are other lesser-known heroes who have given their lives in heroic acts worthy of recognition. Pal, as he was named during the first months of his life, was the pet of a family who lived in the small Canadian town of Gander. Like a good Newfoundland, the dog soon began to grow and became a specimen weighing around 70 kilograms.

It was October 1941, and second World War was in development. The Unit of the Royal Rifles and Winnipeg Ranchers had previously been sent to war together to defend the British colony of Hong Kong from Japanese threats. Prior to service in Hong Kong, the Royal Rifles and Sergeant Gander had served in Newfoundland and St Johns, while the Grenadiers served in Jamaica, although both squadrons had minimal training, this was not relevant at the time. It was thought that Canadians would only have garrison duty, not combat duty. However, peace on the island was short-lived and in December the Japanese landing resulted in intense bombings against Hawaii (Pearl Harbour), as well as United States naval bases in northern Malaysia, the Philippines, Guam, Wake Island, and Hong Kong, Where were the Canadians? As stated in the Canadian Veterans Archive, the Canadian Forces commanded 1,975 soldiers commanded by Brigadier JK Lawson, in addition to Gander and another body of nurses. On December 19, 1941, the 1st Battalion of the Royal Rifles was cut down and the Canadians were barely able to respond to the offensive. In one such attack, a grenade fell along with the squad and bravely Gander took the explosive and quickly drove away, exploded and died instantly, but saved the soldiers. Although the fighting ended with over 1,050 dead and wounded, the remaining survivors, including some prisoners of war, were able to return home, although this confrontation was one of the bloodiest episodes involving Canadians in World War II.

Only a few weeks passed after the fateful day for Gander to become a legend. He was posthumously awarded the Dickin Medal on 27 October 2000. The first to be honored in 51 years, and after the Canadian War Museum, the Hong Kong Veterans Association and the Hong Kong Memorial Association advocated an award for bravery. The Dickin Medal is a equivalent to the Victoria Cross. Animals were given the award for their actions in armed conflicts and to date only 61 animals have been received the award. His medal read: “For saving the lives of Canadian infantrymen during the Battle of Lai Mun on Hong Kong Island in December 1941. Twice Gander attacks blocked enemy advances and wounded protected groups of soldiers. In a final act of bravery, the war dog was killed while carrying a hand grenade. Without Gander’s intervention, many more lives would have been lost in the attack." Three decades before he was awarded the Dickin Medal, and at the insistence of the surviving military, Gander was included in the Hong Kong Veterans Memorial located in Ottawa, Canada, where the names of 1,975 male and two female nurses who were part of the battalion are pending. Finally, on 23 July 2015, a statute in honor of Gander was erected at Newfoundland Memorial Park. Philip Dodridge, one of the former members of the Royal Rifles who was also a prisoner of the Japanese for three years, told the network, CBC: “It is very emotional, even talking about it, it is very close to my heart. He was loved by all of us, he followed us to Hong Kong and was killed in action.” Gander’s story was also included in David Long’s book The Animals VC, For Gallantry or Devotion, which discusses the animals that have received the Dickin Medal."

On This Day In History - Lewis & Clark Return To St. Louis As Heroes With Their Incredible Newfoundland Dog, Seaman

(yahoonews.com - Kerry Byrne)

U.S. Army Captain Meriwether Lewis, 2nd Lt. William Clark and their Corps of Discovery returned to St. Louis to a hero's welcome after their epic journey to the Pacific Ocean on this day in history, Sept. 23, 1806. "We were met by all the village and received a hearty welcome from its inhabitants," wrote Clark as their expedition returned to the Gateway to the West. "We Suffered the party to fire off their pieces as a salute to the town." Their epic continental sojourn, easily covered by air travel today in mere hours, lasted 28 months and covered 8,000 miles of an undulating route largely following the Missouri and Columbia rivers.

"What happened to the Corps is a great story, brimming with energy and full of forward motion," enthused historian James P. Ronda in a 2003 retrospective in Smithsonian Magazine. "In extraordinary settings, a remarkable cast of characters encountered adversity of epic proportions and struggled through one adventure after another."

The expedition included about three dozen members. Among the multicultural band of explorers: Clark's slave, York, whose skin color shocked natives who had never seen a black person before; celebrated Shoshone native Sacagawea; and her French Canadian-Native American son Jean-Baptiste Charbonneau, born on the journey in present-day North Dakota in 1805. Clark cared for the boy after Sacagawea died in 1812. Seaman, Clark's Newfoundland dog, also made the journey.

The expedition took the Corps through what was then the forbidden North American wilderness, unexplored by Europeans, largely unmapped for posterity by humans and inhabited by flora, fauna and native tribes unknown to the outside world. Among the curiosities they encountered and recorded to the amazement of European Americans were 178 plants, 122 animals — including grizzly bears — and the indigenous Clatsop people in what's now Oregon, one of many "Flathead" tribes of the Pacific Northwest.

"The most remarkable trait in their physiognomy," wrote Lewis, "is the peculiar flatness and width of forehead, which they artificially obtain by compressing the head between two boards while in a state of infancy and from which it never afterward perfectly recovers … From the top of the head to the extremity of the nose is one straight line." The Corps was commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson while he was working to acquire the sprawling Louisiana Territory from France in 1803. "Even before negotiations with France were finished, Jefferson asked Congress to finance an expedition to survey the lands of the so-called Louisiana Purchase and appointed Lewis as expedition commander," according to History.com.

The Corps of Discovery departed on May 14, 1804, reached the Pacific on Nov. 7, 1805, wintered on the Columbia River near present-day Astoria, Oregon, and began the return journey to St. Louis on March 23, 1806. Both Lewis and Clark kept detailed accounts of the journey. They left for posterity a rich repository of insight into the natural landscape, the continent's native inhabitants and their own daily battles for survival. Remarkably, all but one member of the expedition, Sgt. Charles Floyd, lived to complete the journey. He died on Aug. 20, 1804, perhaps of a ruptured appendix, upon what's now known as Floyd's Bluff on the Missouri River in Sioux City, Iowa. "Lewis and Clark's journals record for us not only a story of astonishing personal courage but also a powerful parable of trust within the human community," writes editor Landon Y. Jones in his 2000 account of their diaries, "The Essential Lewis and Clark." "On one level, Lewis is the more sophisticated storyteller," he wrote. "Clark on the other hand is blunter, earthier and more to the point." Among hundreds of other human insights in their records, the Corps of Discovery celebrated the young nation's independence on July 4, 1805, with their remaining stock of spirits, music and dancing in what's now Great Falls, Montana. "The fiddle was played and they danced very merrily," wrote Lewis of his team. "They continued their mirth with songs and festive jokes and were extremely merry until late at night." "That evening the first Americans ever to enter Montana, the first to ever see the Yellowstone, the Milk, the Marias and the Great Falls, the first Americans ever to kill a grizzly, celebrated their nation's 29th birthday," wrote Stephen Ambrose in his 1996 history, "Undaunted Courage: Meriwether Lewis, Thomas Jefferson and the Opening of the American West."

"It is with pleasure that I announce to you the safe arrival of myself and party," Lewis wrote to President Jefferson on the day of their return to St. Louis. "In obedience to your orders we have penetrated the continent of North America to the Pacific Ocean, and sufficiently explored the interior of the country to affirm with confidence that we have discovered the most practicable rout which [does] exist across the continent by means of the navigable branches of the Missouri and Columbia Rivers."

When Queen Elizabeth II Met The Newfies In Newfoundland

(Queen Elizabeth II is shown some Newfoundland dogs with Premier of Newfoundland Brian Tobin in Bonavista, Nfld., on June 24, 1997. Photo By Carlo Allegri /AFP PHOTO) (Christina Blizzard - Toronotosun.com) "Queen Elizabeth II had a long love affair with Canada. And we loved her back. She visited this country 22 times — more than any other in the world. Her first visit was as a princess in 1951, shortly before the death of her father, George VI. I was lucky enough to cover the last few tours she made to this country. One of them was to greet the ship, The Matthew, a replica of John Cabot’s ship. Five hundred years after Cabot discovered Newfoundland, the Queen was on hand in Bonavista, in 1997 to greet a replica of that ship as it sailed in from England. It was minus four degrees, that June day when The Matthew arrived. There was fog offshore and a cold, East Coast drizzle that occasionally turned to flurries. The wind cut through like a knife to the bone. All the same, huge crowds turned out in the tiny fishing village, clogging roads and causing good-natured mayhem as they greeted the royal couple. Swaddled in blankets and a sporting a weatherproof coat, the Queen sat through an hour-long ceremony of sea shanties and speeches with absolute stoicism. Back in St. John’s the next day, she shed the dowdy rain gear to dazzle at a gala with Prime Minister Jean Chretien, before heading off to Labrador. It was a whirlwind schedule, with countless changes in weather and clothing. Yet she and her husband, Prince Philip, spent hours shaking hands and greeting people. n 2010, she toured Nova Scotia, where she spent an afternoon inspecting warships from around the world in Halifax harbour in an international ceremony. There were frigates and destroyers from many countries and their crews met the Queen with loud cheers and exuberant hat-twirling salutes. I was on one of the boats following the royal couple as mariners from around the world saluted them. It was there I met the Queen’s formidable dresser, Angela Kelly, whose formal title is special adviser to Her Majesty (Queen’s Wardrobe). Kelly is a no-nonsense type who makes no secret of her humble beginnings in a modest family in Liverpool. She and the Queen became fast friends over the years, with the Queen reportedly admiring Kelly’s forthright nature. Kelly is credited with changing her boss’s style, putting her in bolder colours and more stylish outfits. After Halifax, the royal couple flew off to Ottawa for Canada Day celebrations then on to Toronto and Waterloo to tour the headquarters of Research in Motion, makers of the then-state-of-the-art BlackBerry. She also toured Toronto’s Pinewood Studios. At the RIM offices, she was presented with a new BlackBerry and I recall some young reporters on the media bus on the way home questioning whether the elderly Queen would know how to use it. In fact, she was an early adopter of the new technology. It wasn’t her first BlackBerry. Back in the heyday of the brand, Buckingham Palace liked the security features on the revolutionary Canadian-made phone. She’d had several before being handed the new one. And she was perfectly at home around technology. She trained as a mechanic during the war with the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS), so was not exactly a shrinking violet when it came to rolling up her sleeves to get things to work. She drove herself in her Range Rover until her final days. She also spoke good French — as did her father, George VI. His speech impediment was the subject of the 2010 movie The King’s Speech. Oddly, while he had stuttered in English, he spoke French perfectly. It was that proficiency that made him popular in Quebec. Quebecers said he was more their king than the Anglos’ because of his perfect French. Share this article in your social network"

The Dog From Newfoundland - Saving Lives In Many Ways

(coventrytelegraph.net) "A woman said she owes her life to a rescue dog who spotted her breast cancer after 'sniffing and nuzzling' her right armpit. Lucy Giles, 45, thought her beloved Broady was initially just craving some attention but, soon after discovering a lump in her armpit, she was diagnosed with HER2-positive breast cancer. The animal-lover had welcomed the 11-stone Newfoundland giant into her life in July 2021 after her partner Ashley, 62, had spent six months in hospital on a life-support machine after contracting Covid. When Ashley returned home, he was dependent on Lucy, who works as a carer, and she became his full-time support.

As part of his recovery, the pair decided to add to the family of pets who they dote on, including two dogs Leo and Murphy, 18 rabbits, two cats and a tortoise. They then adopted Broady the gentle giant, who was from a family who could no longer look after him. The Newfoundland breed is well-known for water rescue and lifesaving because of their swimming abilities and intelligence and Lucy, of Didcot, Oxon, said: 'It was in the September that he started to sniff and nuzzle at my right armpit. It was mostly when I was sat down, so either watching TV or sitting down for a rest and always in the same spot on my right side.' 'At first, I thought it was him wanting a bit of fuss and attention but I decided that I should perhaps take notice as it was just my right side he would do this. I was washing myself in the shower one morning and decided to have a feel under my breasts and examine myself and that’s when I felt a lump right there in my armpit.'

Lucy was then informed to wait a month by her GP surgery as her doctor thought it could be hormone related - but the lump remained a few weeks later, and she was referred to Churchill Hospital for tests. She explained: 'The hospital called me one afternoon and asked me to come in and I had no idea what the news would be as they wouldn’t tell me over the phone.' 'The consultant said straight away that I had HER2-positive breast cancer and there was also residual cancer cells in my lymph nodes. The news hit me hard as it was the same day my nan had died from bowel cancer the year previously and I was with her when she died.' In October last year, Miss Giles underwent six rounds of chemotherapy followed by a lumpectomy with radiotherapy afterwards. She is still going through chemotherapy as well as continuing to work full time. Lucy added: 'I have had dark days and OK days. The chemo does make me feel poorly with mouth ulcers and some nose bleeds but I have a brilliant support network of family and friends who take me to appointments and help in just being there for me, along with Brody, of course, who perhaps came into our lives for a reason.' Lucy is hoping to encourage others to join her in Oxford on Saturday, September 3 for this year’s Cancer Research UK Shine Night Walk - a 10km stroll to raise money for life-saving research. Alison Birkett, from Cancer Research UK, said: 'One in two of us will get cancer in our lifetime, but all of us can help beat it. 'As we mark our anniversary, we want to thank Lucy, Ashley and, of course, Broady and people across Oxfordshire for their incredible commitment to events like Shine Night Walk that make our life-saving work possible.'"

A Song For Henry

"I bless the day I found you . . ., I wanna stay around you . . ., And so I beg you. . ., let it be me....; Don't take this heaven from one. . ., If you must cling to someone. . ., Now and forever, let it be me...."

On Youth, On Being Forty-Five

"Only a moment; a moment of strength, of romance, of glamour — of youth … A flick of sunshine upon a strange shore, the time to remember, the time for a sigh, and — goodbye.“ (Joseph Conrad)

Happy 2nd Birthday Henry!!

A beautiful day with a best friend at the Miramar Beach Restaurant. Henry enjoyed a grand steak and has become the unofficial, offical Newfie of this great spot.

Norman The Newfie - Newsweek's Pet Of The Month

"Newsweek adores animals, just like the majority of sane people on Earth do. All of them, big, small, fluffy, and short-haired. It was challenging to choose, but this week’s Pet of the Week is a New Jersey Newfoundland who goes for a morning swim in his backyard pool every day, whether or not his family is there, and then dries off on a sun lounger. This week also saw pets go global with the introduction of a pair of cats spending the summer in Barcelona, one of which is a genuine “Smelly Cat” by the name of Mr. Stinky, a cute cat from Peru and a poodle from New Zealand. You can submit your pet using the simple instructions at the bottom of the page if you believe it deserves some attention as well. Norman Is Pet of the Week Norman, a five-year-old Newfoundland from New Jersey, adores the water in the summertime, followed by sunbathing. His entire family has fallen in love with him and says he is the funniest dog they have ever had. He may be big, but he’s definitely not scary. His mother gave birth to two puppies, according to his owner Karin Smith, who spoke to Newsweek. He is without a doubt the large breed dog we have owned with the funniest and most playful personality. The average Newfоundland can weigh up tо 150 pоunds and measure 28 inches acrоss the shоulder. The American Kennel Club describes them as “pоwerful wоrking dоgs оf heavy bоne and dignified bearing.” Hоwever, Nоrman is the ideal illustratiоn оf a friendly giant. They have even earned the mоniker “nanny dоg” due tо their well-knоwn prоwess with kids. Like a yоung child, he greets us after wоrk by carrying his favоrite stuffed animal arоund, accоrding tо Smith. But abоve all, Nоrman adоres swimming and spends his summertime by the pооl. “Nоrman enjоys swimming and the summer. Althоugh he frequently gоes swimming early in the mоrning and lays оn the lоunge chair tо dry оff, he particularly enjоys swimming in the pооl when оthers are using it."

Newfoundland Joins Lifeguards At Scarborough Beach State Park

(By Drew Johnson - The Forecaster - July 5, 2022)

Five dogs took to Scarborough Beach State Park last week, but not to play fetch or go for a walk. Beacon, a 14-month-old Newfoundland, is training to help lifeguards save lives. Two visiting dogs were there to train Beacon and the two other canines.

“(Beacon) won’t be a first responder; she’ll be a second responder,” said Park Manager Greg Wilfert. “What her job will be is to help the lifeguards bring the people back in. I have all my lifeguards working with her.” Beacon has been working with trainers from the American Academy of Canine Water Rescue, based in Massachusetts. It’s quite a spectacle when Beacon trots along the shore wearing her life jacket. Beachgoers stop to pet and take photos of her and ask Wilfert a lot of questions. The idea of a professionally trained water rescue dog is, quite literally, foreign.

“I had seen the groups from Italy and Croatia that use dogs as water rescue dogs,” Wilfert said. “I just thought it was another tool that could be utilized like our Jet Ski is. You don’t use it all the time, but you have it there for a purpose.” Italy has certified 400 water rescue dogs via the Scuola Italiana Cani Da Salvataggio, or Italian School of Rescue Dogs. Two of them — Angel and Oakley — and their owners were invited to Scarborough Beach on June 30 to help train Beacon and the two other dogs, a German Shepard named Athena and a 4-month-old Newfoundland named Orso. The latter spent the morning soaking up the sun and studying his peers. Angel, also a Newfoundland, was the first dog from the United States to be certified in water rescue in Italy.

“That’s one of the reasons why I founded the American Academy of Canine Water Rescue,” said Maria Gray, who also owns Angel. “I want to bring their techniques and their philosophy and their methodology here to the United States.” Over 10 people drown in the United States every day, Gray said, a statistic that doesn’t account for those who suffer severe injuries and brain damage from accidents on the water.

“It’s 100% preventable if you follow basic rules, if you swim with a buddy, if you wear a life jacket on open ocean water,” Gray said. “We strive to educate, but we also work to train these dogs to actually be able to conduct a rescue.” Oakley, a black and white Newfoundland, also known as a Landseer, was also there to teach the dogs some new tricks. She drew quite the crowd in Scarborough Thursday, in part due to her eyewear. “The goggles are probably the most noticeable thing,” said George Abraham, lead instructor at the American Academy of Canine Water Rescue, and Oakley’s owner. “They’re made specifically for working dogs.” The goggles function as sunglasses but also help protect Oakley’s eyes from sand and salt water, which is often kicked up when she and Angel jump out of helicopters in the Mediterranean Sea as part of their open-water rescue training. Beacon will not be jumping out of any helicopters on Wilfert’s watch, but she does ride on a personal watercraft. “Beacon’s been out on the Jet Ski, she’s made simulated water rescues,” Wilfert said. “(Lifeguards) have to work with her four to five times a day on certain training aspects.” Advertisement Much of that includes obedience, like staying when told and walking alongside her assigned lifeguard on patrols. While those may seem like simple tricks, it’s important for water rescue dogs to instantly follow commands. Fortunately for Beacon, Oslo and Athena, they are learning from one of the best: Oakley.

“She’s traveled around the world, 99.9% of the time off-leash,” Abraham said. Throughout the interview, and for much of Thursday morning, Oakley didn’t move in the midst of the crowded beach. “She always keeps eye contact; if I go somewhere, she’s going to start looking,” Abraham said, taking no more than three steps across the beach. “She looked. She always knows where I’m at, she’s always waiting for her next command.”

While any dog of “sufficient size” and strength can be trained, Newfoundlands are often in a class of their own when it comes to water rescue. They have webs between their toes, use a swimming style more similar to a human’s than a doggy paddle, and have three coats of fur, “which keeps them dry even in the coldest waters. “The Newfoundland is the only dog that can swim in Arctic waters without dying of hypothermia,” Gray said. “They’re incredible.”

Working with Angel and Oakley, Wilfert said, requires Beacon to do a lot of watching and studying. When Oakley performed a simulated rescue mission, Wilfert made sure Beacon was watching. In the simulated mission, a lifeguard plays the role of a drowning swimmer. Another lifeguard, the first responder, swims out to help and signals back to the beach for backup. That’s when the second-responding lifeguard comes to the rescue along with a dog.

The dogs are trained to tow the lifeguards and distressed swimmers to shore by tugging on a rope attached to the floating devices lifeguards bring out to support the victim. It’s a strategy that permits one lifeguard to give their full attention to the swimmer and increases the speed of the rescue. “The dog allows me to, much more quickly, get to a person in distress and helps me get back to a boat or the shore,” Gray said. The dogs also help the lifeguards navigate. During Oakley’s simulation, she did not swim directly to the shore, but at a slight angle. Using their intuition, the dogs are able to find the path of least resistance, Wilfert said, accounting for the wind and waves. When it was Beacon’s turn to simulate the mission, she used the same tactic, alongside Angel as her mentor.

The session at Scarborough Beach was also a learning experience for Angel and Oakley. They usually train in the open ocean or lakes and ponds, so the experience at the beach trains them to overcome the waves crashing on the shore. In Italy, where water rescue dogs have been trained and certified for 30 years, Gray said, dogs are responsible for saving hundreds of lives each year. In an effort to make rescue dogs more widely used, Angel and Oakley have performed demonstrations for U.S. Coast Guard bases across the country.

Meanwhile, Beacon is progressing at a fast rate, and it seems Scarborough Beach lifeguards will have a four-legged, tail-wagging companion to lean on for some time. “Beacon’s only 14 months, going on 15 months old,” Wilfert said. “She’s very young to be at this stage, and she’s learned a lot with Angel and Oakley … that’s why they’ve been invited here to train on the beach; so that Beacon can see their dogs in action.”

Seaman - A Newfoundland Dog Who Accompanied Lewis and Clark

(Americacomesalive.com)

"Lewis and Clark’s Corps of Discovery Expedition was commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson shortly after the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. Jefferson asked Captain Meriwether Lewis to head up a select group that partially consisted of U.S. Army volunteers; Lewis was to be aided by his good friend, Second Lieutenant William Clark. Their primary goal was to explore and map the newly acquired territory and find a practical route across an essentially unexplored part of the continent. It was a risky journey, and no one could predict how long the Corps would be gone. The group planned to depart from St. Louis in the spring of 1804, and Seaman was thought to have been purchased by Meriwether Lewis for $20 while he was in Pittsburgh waiting for the completion of the boats that would be taken on the journey. There is no record as to why Lewis selected a Newfoundland—whether it was simply a dog that caught his attention or whether he selected Seaman because the breed is known for being smart and strong with good swimming ability. Occasionally readers may find the Newfoundland referred to as Scannon. In 1916 Lewis’ handwriting was misinterpreted by a historian, and the dog’s name was written as Scannon. Not until 1987 was the mistake discovered. Historian Donald Jackson was at work with the material and re-examined the journals, realizing that the dog’s name was actually Seaman.

As one would expect, the Corps of Discovery participants were totally occupied finding their way through country they did not know, coping with adversity, and documenting their discoveries—both the routes taken as well as notes on flora and fauna found along the way. Seaman is mentioned only on an 'as necessary' basis – at times of crisis or when Meriwether Lewis had a little extra time and the dog’s story illustrated a point. One of the first mentions of the dog is as Lewis and Seaman departed from Pittsburgh on August 30, 1803. Lewis writes that Seaman was skilled at catching and killing squirrels, which Lewis found excellent to eat once 'fryed.' Once on the journey, Seaman attracted positive attention from the Shawnees who offered three beaver skins for the dog, but Lewis said no. Later Seaman also was reported as a favorite of a 'buffaloe calf' that followed them along the shore until Lewis and Seaman re-boarded the boat. Seaman had some nights when he would wander and explore on his own, and occasionally, Lewis expressed concern in his journal entries, but each morning Seaman returned to accompany the group on the next leg of the trip. On May 19, Lewis notes that Seaman was seriously hurt. One of the men had shot and wounded a beaver, and when Seaman went out to retrieve it, the animal bit him through the hind leg, cutting an artery. Both Lewis and Clark took extraordinary medical measures to save Seaman, and fortunately, the dog pulled through. And only ten days later, Seaman was credited by the men with saving the expedition. During the night a buffalo bull charged through the camp. Another member of the party, Sergeant Ordway, documented in his journal that the great beast passed 'between 4 fires & within a few inches of Several men; it was Supposed if he had trod on a man it would have killed him dead. The dog flew at him which turned him from running against the lodge [in] which the officers layed, [and] he passed without doing more damage than [breaking the stalk] of a rifle & injuring one of the blunderbusses [muzzle-loading firearm] in the pirogue [type of boat used for the expedition] as he passed through.' The occurrence had the entire camp in an uproar, with everyone up and armed. After greater wakefulness, they realized that thanks to Seaman the threat had passed.

Lewis’ journals also note that Seaman was plagued by some of the same annoyances of nature that bothered the men. Mosquitoes were everywhere: 'the mosquitos continue to infest us in such manner that we can scarcely exist…my dog even howls with the torture he experiences from them, they are almost insupportable, they are so numerous that we frequently get them in our throats as we breathe.' Another irritation to man and beast were the barbed seeds of the foxtail. Seaman’s heavy coat, which helped him withstand the cold from swimming in icy water, made him a good target for carrying these seeds. Lewis wrote: These 'penetrate our mockersons and leather legings and give us great pain until they are removed. My poor dog suffers with them excessively, he is constantly binting and scratching himself as in a rack of pain.' Other adventures of Seaman are described here and there in the journals, but for almost a year (August 1805 to July 1806), Seaman is not mentioned. Then in July of 1806 there is a journal entry noting that a creek was being named in Seaman’s honor. This left historians with the impression that Seaman was still alive. Most also feel that if anything had happened to him, the event would have been recorded.

After the trip there is no mention of Seaman as part of Lewis’ life, but author and historian James J. Holmberg has done some additional sleuthing to determine what happened to the dog. Eventually Holmberg came upon some information in a book published in 1814 that leads him to believe that Seaman survived the trip and continued to make his life with Meriwether Lewis. The book that led Holmberg to this conclusion was a book of epitaphs and inscriptions of the day, recorded by a clergyman and educator named Timothy Alden. According to Holcomb, Entry 916 of American Epitaphs and Inscriptions lists an inscription that was on a dog collar that had been donated to a museum in Alexandria, Virginia. The inscription read: 'The greatest traveler of my species. The name is SEAMAN, the dog of captain Meriwether Lewis whom I accompanied to the Pacifick ocean through the interior of the continent of North America.' The additional details noted by Alden had to do with the period following Meriwether Lewis’ untimely death in 1809. Lewis had suffered from depression for many years but whether the death was suicide — as most historians feel — or murder is still an ongoing discussion. Alden’s note following the inscription was this (exactly as it was written): 'The fidelity and attachment of this animal were remarkable. After the melancholy exit of gov. Lewis, his dog would not depart for a moment from his lifeless remains; and when they were deposited in the earth no gentle means could draw him from the spot of interment. He refused to take every kind of food, which was offered him, and actually pined away and died with grief upon his master’s grave.' Unfortunately the collar cannot be found. The museum suffered a fire in 1871 when many artifacts were lost. The ledgers from that period still exist but Holmberg notes that while they did not mention the donation of a dog collar, they also appeared to be generally incomplete. Despite this, Holmberg’s discovery of the information in Alden’s book does add an interesting possibility to what may have happened to Seaman."

Happy Birthday Andrew

"I wish you were here today even for just a little while so I could say Happy Birthday 'Andrew' and see your beautiful smile. The only gifts today will be the gifts you left behind; The laughter, joy and happiness... precious memories...the best kind. Today I'll do my very best to try and find a happy place... struggling to hide my heavy heart and the tears on my face. I'll sit quietly and look at your picture thinking of you with love; hoping you're doing ok in Heaven up above. May the angels hold you close and sing you a happy song... and I'll be sending wishes to you today and all year long."

Dog From Newfoundland Wins Breed At Westminster

(CBC News) "A dog from a breeding business owned by Newfoundland and Labrador's deputy premier won Best of Breed at the 146th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York on Wednesday."

"Siobhan Coady, also the province's finance minister, told CBC News the win makes Beau, a Labrador retriever, one of the top dogs in the world. 'To have him here at Westminster, to see him stack up against the best of the best, it certainly is an honour,' Coady said. Beau, whose full name is Beaumont Hamel, was bred by GoFetch Labradors, the St. John's dog breeding business run by Coady and her husband. 'My husband and I have been breeding Labradors because we wanted to have the best Labradors in the world,' she said. 'They're a heritage animal in Newfoundland and Labrador and they're the best animals in the world.' The retriever's name holds significance for Newfoundland and Labrador too — Beaumont Hamel is the site in France where more than 700 members of the Newfoundland Regiment were killed, wounded or went missing on July 1, 1916, during the First World War. Coady said Beau, who was already a grand champion in both Canada and the United States, won the title Best of Breed out of 67 dogs. He was led to his win by dog handler and co-breeder Fabian Negron, who said he was "thrilled" with Beau. 'Every single box was checked. His attitude was there. His movement was there. He just put on a fantastic performance and the judge recognized it,' he said. Negron said the Best in Breed title is "amazing recognition" for Beau, as well as for his owners and breeders. 'We're just very excited and we just want the people of Newfoundland to know how proud we are to be representing the breed with one of their own,' Negron said. Coady owns Beau's mother, Jersey, and Negron owns his father. Despite his world-champion status, Coady said Beau is 'a sook.' 'He's a lovely, kind, sweet dog. He's a typical Labrador retriever. He likes to swim and likes to fetch. He likes to sleep. He likes to give kisses. He's a really kind and gentle soul,' Coady said. Coady said Beau will be featured in a dog show in Bay Roberts this summer."

For Henry - The Dog From Newfoundland

THE LEGEND OF THE NEWFOUNDLAND DOG "There is a land where the waves explode upon the reef in a boiling foam, there the legend was born. As the story is told, God turned one day to contemplate all of his creations and saw on that Newfoundland Isle, flailed by storm a small nation of fishermen, whose rough, weather-beaten people fought courageously against the impervious elements of nature as the freezing cold winter and the unforgiving coastline took its toll, and the sea often asked the sacrifice of human life. Nevertheless, they remained deep-rooted, these men of Newfoundland with the stubbornness as great as their courage. God saw, and in his infinite compassion, thought how he might alleviate their suffering. He searched among the creatures of his creations but found none that would serve. It was then he decided to create one anew. He took the body of a bear, whose bone structure lent well to such arduous labours and whose thick fur would resist the bitter Newfoundland cold. Then he thought to sweeten this silhouette with the lithe, flexuous lines and movements of the seal, with all its prowess to swim and speedily slip between the waves. Now turning to the sea, he saw the playful dolphins happily following the ships, their sweet, joy-filled eyes revealing their serene temperament, and more; they so love man that they often rescue them, saving them from the sea. Yes, they too would be part of this creature. When he had done the moulding and casting, there suddenly appeared in his creative arms, a superb animal with glistening black fur; powerful and sweet in the same moment. This new being, however, had to have an allegiance and faithfulness, tried and true, to be able to live beside man and be ever ready to offer his life for his master. It was at that moment that the Lord opened and placed in his chest, the heart of a dog, and the miracle was complete. From that day onward, those men of the sea had beside them, their courageous companion ever strong, ever faithful, the Newfoundland Dog." (Reprinted in translation from the book "Il Cane Di Terra Nova" by Emmy Bruno, editor Mursia-Milano)