Working Dogs (Good and Bad), Tallest Meets Shortest, Stanley Pups, and More!
Millie sniffed out an elderly neighbor, and a week later, a missing girl. photo: Fox28SAvannah
Millie Makes Good:
Young Super Sniffer on the Case
Working dogs are in the news this month, including one of the youngest members of the profession. Meet Millie, a 10-month-old Bloodhound with the Maine State Police who's already making a name for herself in the search-and-rescue biz.
Though still a pup, Millie proved her prowess this spring, tracking down a 77-year-old woman with cognitive issues who had wandered off in Rockport, Maine. After human law enforcement officers failed in their initial search, they finally called in Millie sometime after midnight.
Sniffing one of the woman's socks, Millie began her search nearly a mile from the woman's home where a neighbor had last seen her walking. Minutes later, this talented young sniffer led her handler to an outbuilding a quarter mile away where the elderly woman was found and safely recovered.
But that's not all. Just three weeks later, Millie was called in again, this time to find a five-year-old girl with autism who had gone missing from her home. Again deploying her super sniffer, Millie tracked the girl's scent over a third of a mile through a swamp where the girl was found waist deep in the water, thankfully unharmed.
"Millie is only 10 months old, yet she's already proving herself time and again with her dedication, sweet disposition, and incredible nose," said a state police spokesperson. Or to put it another way, who's the best girl?
Sources: fox28savannah.com , wgme.com
Officer Sausage Stealer reporting for duty. photo: AdobeStock
Upstanding Officer or World's Shortest Criminal? China's First Corgi K-9 Caught in the Act
Meanwhile, on the other side of the globe, another working dog is grabbing headlines - this time for cheeky behavior on the job.
Young Fu Zai was already an attention getter as the first Corgi to serve as a police dog in China. Admittedly cast against type, the short-legged charmer started his official duties as a sniffer dog last fall, soon winning a huge social media following.
But the food-obsessed young officer recently found himself in trouble, caught on camera stealing a bite of sausage from a passing child while on patrol. Did we mention he'd already lost part of his Lunar New Year's bonus for sleeping on the job and peeing in his food bowl?
But dog experts say such playful antics are business as usual for Corgis. Traditionally bred to herd cattle by nipping at their ankles, many have retained a propensity to nip. Also prone to curiosity and distractibility, is it any wonder a passing sausage at child height would be too much to resist?
Despite these challenges, Fu Zai remains a full-fledged member of the Weifang Police Department, at least for now. Shortly after the sausage incident, his trainers took him to visit the child's kindergarten class, bearing several sausages and some Fu Zai-themed gifts to apologize.
Though his performance reviews may be less than stellar, this pup has definitely earned his stripes as a goodwill ambassador, with thousands of online fans more than willing to overlook his occasional lapses. As one observed, "Maybe it is time to upgrade his meals so he is not so tempted."
Sources: apple.news, nytimes.com
Pearl and Reggie mug for the paparazzi after meeting as world record holders. photo: guinnessworldrecords.com
Tallest Meets Shortest:
Size No Object for Canine Record Holders
It was definitely not your average play date when Reggie met Pearl for the first time last month.
Reggie is a spotted gray Great Dane towering over three feet at the withers and the current holder of the Guinness World Records title for world's tallest dog. Compare that to Pearl, a tiny white Chihuahua who currently holds the world's shortest dog title, checking in at a mere 3-1/2 inches in height.
Reggie downs four meals daily and drinks straight from the bathroom faucet, while Pearl consumes just an ounce of food a day and laps her water from a saucer. But the two appeared to get along swimmingly, perhaps bonding over a shared love of chicken. And the size difference didn't stop feisty Pearl from trying to make off with Reggie's extra-large toys.
During the meet up, organized by Guinness at Reggie's Idaho home, the pair sniffed each other, roamed the house together, and walked to a nearby barn. Then they both fell asleep, snoring and dreaming their doggy dreams as pups of any size will do.
Source: wapo.st
The National Hockey League brings us the second annual Stanley Pup, with each team represented by an adoptable dog from their own hometown shelter. photo: NHL
Stanley Pup!
Cute Chaos on Ice
It's been almost six months since Puppy Bowl XXI gave TV viewers the chance to adore - and adopt - sporty young pups from shelters across the country in a goofy football-themed telethon.
Not to be outdone, this month the National Hockey League brings us the second annual Stanley Pup, with each of the league's 32 teams represented by an adoptable dog from one of their own hometown shelters. Celebrity guests on and around the rink will include Jamie Lee Curtis, Cedric the Entertainer, Michael Bublé, and other well-known dog and/or hockey fans.
U.S. viewers can catch all the chaos on TruTV, Friday, June 6, (4 p.m. Pacific / 7 p.m. Eastern) and again Sunday, June 8 (3 p.m. Pacific / 6 p.m. Eastern). The show also airs on the NHL Network June 8 (4 p.m. Pacific / 7 p.m. Eastern) and across the NHL's digital platforms.
Ice is nice. But once the cameras are off, let's hope every one of those canine contenders skates its way into a good, warm forever home.
Source: upi.com
Get your tickets for the finals at Madison Square Garden. photo: Westminster Kennel Club
Party With the Pure Breds:
Westminster Turns 150
We're all about mutts at our house. But if you're into the snooty dog thing, now's the time to snag your tickets for next year's 150th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.
Evening events are slated for New York's storied Madison Square Garden, February 2-3, 2026. All daytime events, plus a January 31 Canine Celebration, will be held at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.
For details, tickets, and more, visit the Westminster Kennel Club's website. Or just snuggle up with your favorite pup and stream Best in Show, coincidentally celebrating its own 25th anniversary this year and just as hilarious a quarter century in. God loves a terrier!
Source: westminsterkennelclub.org