So many animal lovers are left heartbroken each year because thieves steal their animals seeing them as a way to make a quick buck.
According to the American Kennel Club a staggering 2 million dogs are stolen each year in the U.S. and some heartless thieves even take them from shelters so they can sell them on.
Thankfully there are people in this world that can spot the suspicious signs and take action.
In Oregon one bus driver is being hailed a hero after rescuing a dog from a man who had stolen him, making one dog family very happy.
Bus driver Mike Thomas suspected something untoward when he saw a man walking in the middle of a highway with a yellow Labrador dog.
“You don’t expect to see a person in the road. Let alone a person with a dog,” Mike said, according to KGW8 News.
The man was holding 4-year-old Cooper by the collar and when he stopped to let him on he asked the man if the dog belonged to him.
“He said, ‘Yes, but he’s OK.’ I said, ‘No you need to get your dog, he’s in the road.’ So he called. He said ‘come here,’ but he didn’t say the dog’s name. The dog came back and he pulled the dog on by the collar.”
Mike knew something was wrong and his suspicions were confirmed when he overheard the man offering the dog to a female passenger.
When it was time for the man to get off Mike took action to save the dog.
“I grabbed Cooper’s collar and said the dog’s gonna stay with me. I would be getting him back to his family.”
Mike was able to track Cooper’s owner to Jane Murphy in Portland who was away at the time and had left Cooper with her son who was at a game the night Cooper was stolen.
She can’t thank Mike enough for saving her dog.
“It brings great pride that there are some really good people in this world. Who are willing to go out that extra mile for our four-legged animals.” Jane said, according to KGW8 News.
Well done Mike! Who knows where Cooper could have ended up if this animal hero hadn’t stepped in.
Please share to pay tribute to Mike.
