Fridays warm and fuzzy

[Kip Powick]

He had just saved her from a fire in her house, rescuing her by carrying her out of the house into her front yard, while he continued to fight the fire.

She is pregnant.

The firefighter was afraid of her at first, because he had never been around a Doberman before.

When he finally got done putting the fire out, he sat down to catch his breath and rest.

A photographer from the Charlotte, North Carolina newspaper, "The Observer," noticed this red Doberman in the distance looking at the fireman.

He saw her walking straight toward the fireman and wondered what she was going to do.

As he raised his camera, she came up to the tired man who had saved her life and the lives of her babies, and kissed him, just as the photographer snapped this photograph.

[newgirl]

Great story and picture.

Most Dobies are big babies once they've been neutered and have gone through socialization classes . Having said that I would not enter a Dobie's yard without the owner being there.

So, I understand the firemans trepidation as trauma can bring out the worst in humans and animals.

We underestimate the intelligence of the dog/cat psyche. They do understand much more than we give them credit for.

[Mitch Cronin]

We underestimate the intelligence of the dog/cat psyche.

... lot's of folks do... Not me.

Agreed, great story.

Thanks Kip.

[GDR]

After a discussion a few months back on this forum I became interested in animal thought and behaviour. It seems to me that animals are more intelligent than we had believed but they lack a sense of altruism. They seem to realize that others in their pack are important to them and will work co-operatively with them but they don't seem to exhibit concern for others when there is no personal benefit.

This first article outlines the results of research into farm animals that indicate that their level of intelligence far exceeds what we had previously believed.

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/sto...1431443,00.html

This second article suggests that animals lack any type of altruistic thought. Their concern for others seem to be limited to their own pack and their own welfare.

http://www.physorg.com/news7649.html

After we had our dog for a couple of months my wife thought that he would enjoy a visit with his parents so she made a trip back to the breeder. There was absolutely no recognition by either our dog or his parents. I remember watching a wild life show where animals in the wild also exhibited this same lack of recognition between parents and their offspring.

It is all interesting, and I do know that the first article caused me to feel a new level of discomfort whenever I sit down to a chicken dinner.

Greg

[ccairspace]

After a discussion a few months back on this forum I became interested in animal thought and behaviour.

Hey Greg, have you read "The Philosopher's Dog" yet?

cc

[GDR]

I'm embarrased to say this but we forgot. I'll order it today. By the way cc, but the looks of this forum you suddenly seem to have far too much time on your hands.

Greg

[handyman]

Great story! I remember when I was a kid delivering Newspapers and one of my customers had two Dobermans. Every time I had to collect at month end I would have to go see these Doberman's. When the owner was around, they were the friendliest dogs you could find but when they were alone, they scared the crap out of me and I think they knew it!

[Mitch Cronin]

Doberman's have the brain of a Shepherd, in a pinched skull. They've got an extremely pronounced and tight sense of the pack(fiercly loyal). They're an awesome product of a military minded breeding scheme, and they're beautiful to boot, but they often go... off... because their brain is getting pinched in that little skull. ... At least, that's what I've been told, and it sure fits the Dobies I've known.

...Handyman... Yer darn right they knew it!

[Guest rattler]

Too good to be true Origins: The scene pictured above was captured by Charlotte Observer Patrick Schneider during a house fire in July 1999 and shows firefighter Jeff Clark receiving a doggie greeting from a pregnant red Doberman named Cinnamon. As the Observer described the circumstances behind the photograph in an April 2005 retrospective:

Charlotte firefighter Jeff Clark and Cinnamon, a pregnant red Doberman, gained international exposure with this photograph snapped by the Observer's Patrick Schneider during a July 1999 house fire. Seen through wire services and the Internet, the picture has moved people around the world and is still a top reprint seller.

However, the text that now accompanies e-mailed versions of the photograph is inaccurate in suggesting that Cinnamon was "thanking" firefighter Clark for saving her life "by carrying her out of the house into her front yard." As Clark himself explained, he didn't rescue the dog, and his encounter with her was pure happenstance:

We didn't do anything (special) to save Cinnamon. When we have a house fire, we have to do a primary search. There could be people home and inside. Our first major concern is life safety. That house was full of smoke and we couldn't see it very well. All I saw was a dog run out, and one was (already) in the backyard. I think Cinnamon got out the door herself.

The dog approached me. As soon as I knelt down and took my mask off, Patrick was coming around the corner of the house and took the picture.

Jeff Clark is still with the Charlotte Fire Department. Cinnamon eventually gave birth to five puppies and lived for several more years until she passed away in January 2005.