Goat-Herding Dog Refused To Abandon Flock Amid Firestorm, Miraculously Survived

[packman]

A story of survival, determination and duty out of fire-ravaged California.





"With the deadly flames of the Tubbs Fire bearing down on his property, Roland Tembo Hendel knew it was time to round up his family, dogs and cats flee."

A Great Pyrenees named Odin would not leave the goats he was in charge of and despite the family's efforts to carry him away, the dog stayed with the goat herd. Later the family returned expecting the worst, but...

...We were able to make it back to the smoldering wasteland of our forest,” Hendel wrote on Facebook. “Every structure is in ruins. Trees are still burning.”

But suddenly, the goats appeared and raced toward the family. And there was Odin — fur burned, whiskers melted, limping on his right leg. The battle injuries suffered in his desperate fight with the flames.

During the firestorm Odin not only protected his flock, he also seems to have adopted several baby deer who were huddled around him for safety.

http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2017/10/16/odin-would-not-abandon-his-flock-as-firestorm-approach/

[Beringia]

1. Good story

[Doreen]

3. Dogs that are raised to protect herds are extremely loyal.

I can not remember which breed of dog but I saw a program "life after people" and one of the things that will survive is a dog and a particular herd animal they guard. The people who own these dogs have not trained them for many years. The dogs just simply teach their pups and the line continues. That is really nice that that dog and goats survived.

[Dustlawyer]

10. I have a Great Pyrenees/Anatolian Shepherd named Sophie.

Both breeds she is made up of guard herd animals at night. Sophie makes periodic patrols of the property, barking at the perimeter about every 20-30 minutes. We have to keep her in the house at night to have mercy on our neighbors and get sleep ourselves. In between patrols she lays down but keeps her head up looking around. She will bolt up and take off to investigate any sound she hears such as another dog barking off in the distance.

She is smart, gentle, and loving, one of the best dogs I have ever had.

[Doreen]

12. Sounds like Sophie is beautiful with her cross.

[Bettie]

40. We recently adopted a Great Pyr/Anatolian mix

his name is Ronan. He has the same behaviors and is such a great dog.

The cats...well, they are less sure of him as he thinks they require herding. They disagree.

He also climbs the stairs to the slide, which is his watchtower to keep our yard squirrel free!

He was a rescue, someone didn't want to keep this beautiful boy, but he was clearly meant to be our dog, since he appeared at the shelter right after our 14 year old dog died.

Odin is a great dog and I had to smile that he also found some other strays.

[Dustlawyer]

42. When we went to see Sophie to decide whether to buy her, the owner had her

in a wide open pasture in a driving rainstorm. she was covered in fleas EVERYWHERE, and her ribs stood out she was so underweight at 8 months. The owner complained that she would bark at his rescue mules/donkey which still did not explain her condition. I whispered to my mom that I was buying her no matter what just to get her out of there.

She had tape worms, hook worms, and severely malnourished. Now she is healthy and beautiful! At the moment she is letting the evening walkers/dog walkers know she guards this place in no uncertain terms as she does every evening, morning, and in-between! Lol.

[Bettie]

43. Sounds like an awesome girl

and she was clearly the dog you were meant to have.

[Leith]

4. Odin Is Da Man!

I first heard about him in this thread.

I felt so bad about the poor little animal survivors with their feet and legs wrapped. Imagine the horror they went through!

[Stonepounder]

5. Great story. Thanks.

Hearing these stories help me forget about other things for a bit.

[smirkymonkey]

6. Awwww! Who's a good doggie?

What a brave, sweet dog! I hope Odin gets a lot of extra love and treats for his devotion and courage. He kind of looks like a Golden Retriever in that photo. Anyway, he's adorable and I glad he's going to be ok.

[calimary]

7. Awwwwwwwwww... What a good dog!

Wow. Impressive.

[Gothmog]

8. Great pyrs are amazing dogs

[SCVDem]

9. Good Doggie!

[susanna]

11. I so needed this.

What a wonderful story...they are in short supply these days.

Thank you so much for sharing it.

[trueblue2007]

13. what a wonderful dog !!! Happy ending made my cry and smile.

[burrowowl]

14. Good Dog!

Wonderful Dog!

[iluvtennis]

15. Aww so heartwarming....needed that with all of the political turmoil

[Mediumsizedhand]

16. He has earned a treat. So glad he and the goats and deer made it.

[Brother Buzz]

17. The headline should read: Goat-Gurading Dog Refused To Abandon Flock.....

Great Pyrenees are lousy at herding. I've been to many dog trials, and once in while, for our amusement, they start the trials with a hopeful owner with its star Great Peyenees. The dogs are pretty good keeping a flock together, and well, that's about it.

Odin was just doing what his DNA was telling him to do: Keep these fucking goats together.

[MLAA]

18. Dogs are certainly a much better species than humans.

And this wonderful boy, Odin, is spectacular.

[demosincebirth]

19. Sad thling is that they don't live long

[Lucky Luciano]

25. Ain't that the truth. nt

[Rhiannon12866]

20. Wow! What a brave and heroic dog!

[niyad]

21. definitely needed this 3-hankie story today!!

[peacebuzzard]

22. Thanks for this amazing link! Great loyal friend Odin!

Saved all the critters!

[Botany]

23. Odin puppies for sale

starting price $10,000

[adigal]

24. How the heck did he save them when everything was on fire??

DOG - it spells GOD backward

[NoMoreRepugs]

26. Repubs could learn a thing or two from Odin.

[Glamrock]

27. Stop posting this shit!

I hate crying!

What a beautiful story.....

I do hate crying though, that lump in the throat seems to last forever.

[Moral Compass]

28. In the midst of the Trumpocalypse

In the midst all this badness it was good to read and see something so positive and wonderful.

[Demtexan]

29. This good dog is better then Trump will ever hope to be.

Stayed loyal to goats and the fawns.

[bellmartin]

34. This good dog is the exact opposite of what Trump will ever be.

Everything good, compared to everything bad.

[stopwastingmymoney]

30. I'm here in the fire area

The story of Odin has helped us all feel a little better. I understand he was having a shampoo and a steak dinner tonight!

(we seem to be safe now)

[JDC]

31. I needed this story. Thx

[nuves]

32. Great story.

This story warmed my heart. Thanks for sharing. I would vote for Odin for president; sure beats what we have now.

[Rhiannon12866]

36. This story sure got to me, too - and I'm also sure he'd make a much better POTUS!

Welcome to DU, nuves! We're glad to have you with us!

[Stinky The Clown]

33. Dawgz

[bellmartin]

35. By coincidence, a couple of days ago I gathered photos of a few of the finest dog heroes...

...that I could think of.

I got photos of Laika, of Balto, and of Hachiko.

Odin is very definitely joining the collection.

While I'm at it, I may as well ask, do you have suggestions for dog heroes for me to add?

(Of course, Jenny and Molly our Border collies are already in the collection.)

[Rhiannon12866]

37. I nominate this pup - she's already a national hero:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/116134062

[bellmartin]

38. Thank you so much, Rhiannon! I quite agree. Bless Frida's wonderful Lab heart!

[madokie]

39. Another real tear jerker

Man o man

[joeybee12]

41. Go straight to the head of the line for doggie heaven