Lost and Found Dog Saves Life of Boy with Down Syndrome

[Beacool]

by Helena Sung
Aug 11th 2009

Do you believe in canine guardian angels and the kindness of strangers? You just might after reading this story.

Early one morning, Yolanda Segovia's neighbor, Stacey Savige, knocked on her door and asked her to temporarily take in a stray dog she had found. The scruffy terrier mix had no collar or microchip. Segovia eyed the pooch -- burrs sticking to his belly and mud caking his fur -- and reluctantly agreed to foster him for the day.

An erstwhile hairdresser, Segovia hasn't worked since 2006. At 47, she is a survivor of breast cancer and cervical cancer. A divorced single mother of two, Segovia shares her Port Tampa, Florida home with her 10 year-old son Azaiah and 21 year-old son Christian. Her elder son has Down Syndrome; he cannot speak or bathe himself, and he has had heart surgery and a kidney transplant, reports the St. Petersburg Times.

Azaiah immediately took to the dog, whom he named RaeLee (pronounced "Riley"). Segovia and her sons bought the dog a collar, leash, ball and brown bed from the dollar store, and all that day, Azaiah played with the dog, laughing gleefully whenever RaeLee licked his face. "Don't fall in love with him," Segovia warned.

http://www.pawnation.com/2009/08/11/lost-and-found-dog-saves-life-of-boy-with-down-syndrome/?icid=main|main|dl1|link3|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pawnation.com%2F2009%2F08%2F11%2Flost-and-found-dog-saves-life-of-boy-with-down-syndrome%2F

This story had me in tears. When one almost despairs about humanity, in comes a pooch to save the day.

:-)

[xultar]

1. I wonder if he can swing by Alaska and save Trig?

[Beacool]

3. Only if Trig ever needs saving.

;-)

[livvy]

2. What a sweet story.

This would make a wonderful movie!

[Beacool]

5. Yeah, it will be a 3 hankie movie with a happy ending.

Good people brought together by a great dog.

:D

[kirby]

4. Thanks, wonderful story! n/t

[Beacool]

6. Believe me, it was my pleasure.

It made my morning reading about this heartwarming story.

:hi:

[Historic NY]

7. Some dogs are great at knowing about seizures in humans....

an acquaintance has a basenji dog who rides in a special built carrier on his motorcycle he has had episodes and the dog lets him know one is coming. Strange dog doesn't barks.

http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/basenji.htm

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

8. Sweet story but

I can't help but feel sorry for the original owner's family. Four children who probably loved Odie as much. I would have taken home the pup and found a fabulous friend for the Segovia's.

[Beacool]

10. Well, maybe they can share him.

They could have "joint custody". I don't think that he would be too easy to replace, he sounds like one terrific pooch.

:-)

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

16. Every single dog that I've has owned me has been incredibly empathetic and I don't

think it would be all that difficult to replace him with another pup that needs a loving home.

[Beacool]

18. Yeah, but this one saved her son's life.

He's special to them. Maybe the other family won't mind getting a new pup.

:-)

[Gidney N Cloyd]

12. Yeah. The dog leaps into his old owner's arms then watches him walk away?

What's with that?

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

15. That really bothered me.

[K Gardner]

9. I think I'll just turn the computer off for today.. this has made me feel good about humanity again.

[Beacool]

11. I had tears coming down my cheeks at work.

Someone came in and thought something bad had happened. LOL!!

:D

[grace0418]

13. Crying my eyes out.

Man alive. What a sweet, smart and brave boy RaeLee is.

[Beacool]

14. Isn't he????

:-)

[tavalon]

17. That was so magnificent

Dogs and humans at their very finest. Thank you.

[Beacool]

19. You're welcome.

:hi:

[SammyWinstonJack]

20. What a great story! RaeLee kinda looks like my terrier mix rescue, Jack

I am glad this story had a happy ending.

[Beacool]

24. He's a cutie!!!

:-)

[the other one]

21. The dog kicks when I scratch it just right

A good story back to the top.

[RamboLiberal]

22. Thank you for posting this - what a great story

Got tears in my eyes.

[Beacool]

25. Yeah, me too..........

Very moving and uplifting story.

;-)

[applegrove]

23. Great story.

[Beacool]

26. Yes, it is.

It can get depressing thinking about all the current problems that we face and seeing so much cruelty in the world. We all need these kinds of stories to remind us that amid the bad there is also plenty of good.

:-)