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You’re the One that I Want: John Travolta Adopts Puppy from Oscars Betty White Tribute

Let’s forget about that infamous very low point of this year’s Oscars, shall we, and instead rejoice in one of its highlights: The sweet tribute to Betty White, where Jamie Lee Curtis held an adorable adoptable puppy adorably named Mac N Cheese.

“Day in and day out for almost a century, she was a woman who cared so much for not just her two-legged friends but for animals just like this,” Curtis told the millions of people watching. “So, the greatest gift you could give Betty White is to open your heart and your home and adopt a rescue dog just like Mac N Cheese from Paw Works.” Sweet!

You knew Mac N Cheese wouldn’t be homeless for long, and sure enough, she now has a new family. While cuddling with her in the green room before going on stage as an Oscar presenter, John Travolta fell in love with the puppy.

“I thought it was so beautiful to see him with her and then today I found out that he and his son, Ben have adopted beautiful little mac & cheese and are taking her home today,” Curtis wrote on her Instagram yesterday. As you may or probably don’t recall, Curtis and Travolta starred together in “Perfect” back in 1984.

Travolta confirmed the adoption on his own Instagram. “Ben adopted this dog from last night’s Oscar tribute to Betty White. Thank you @curtisleejamie & @pawworks,” he wrote.

“It is an emotional end and a perfect tribute to Betty White,” Curtis wrote, “and it shines a light and AMPLIFIES the message that heroes who, like Betty, and Chad from Paw Works and Nancy from Perfect Pet Rescue and the team at MaeDay Rescue and the hundreds of thousands of other rescues, who love and support ANIMALS, that rescuing animals and offering them shelter from the storm of life and a warm and loving home is one of life’s most important actions we humans can take!”

You know that Betty White is smiling somewhere.

Another highlight of the Oscars for me was “CODA,” which I loved, winning the Best Picture award. Based on its title, I had actually been rooting for “The Power of the Dog,” until I watched it — and discovered it is not about a canine with superpowers. Hmmpphh.

Paw Works is a nonprofit dog and cat rescue organization based in Camarillo, Calif. If you’d like to help them help more dogs like Mac N Cheese, visit their website.

Photo: Mateus Gowan/YouTube

RIP Daniel, Miracle Beagle Who Survived a Gas Chamber in 2011

Along with several other dogs doomed to the same fate, a 5-year-old stray Beagle was placed inside the gas chamber at an Alabama animal shelter 10 years ago.

An animal control officer turned on the gas and then returned 17 minutes later to remove the bodies of dogs who’d just suffered horrible deaths.

When he opened the door, imagine his surprise when the Beagle wobbled out, wagging his tail.

Instead of having to return to the gas chamber, the miracle dog was named Daniel, after the Bible figure who escaped the lion’s den. He was flown by the rescue organization Pilots N Paws to Eleventh Hour Rescue in New Jersey, where he had a better chance of being adopted.

It didn’t take long for the friendly Beagle to find a loving forever home. He was adopted by the Dwyer family, who cared for Daniel for nearly a decade. Last month, Daniel was diagnosed with the cancer hemangiosarcoma, which had spread to his lungs. Sadly, there was no miracle for Daniel this time around. He died on June 29.

But what an amazing 10 years that lucky dog had! I wrote about many amazing animals for i Love Dogs, and Daniel was one of my favorites. Not only did he become a celebrity, appearing on many TV shows and on a float in the 2014 Tournament of Roses Parade, but he also became a “spokesdog” against the cruelty of using gas chambers to euthanize shelter animals.

At the time that Daniel was adopted, these torture chambers were used in 31 states. In 2014, gas chambers were banned in Pennsylvania thanks to “Daniel’s Law,” named in his honor. As of 2020, gas chambers were still actively used in only four states: Missouri, Ohio, Utah and Wyoming.

Fortunately, legislation to outlaw gas chambers is currently being considered in Utah and Wyoming. Two weeks before Daniel died, the last remaining gas chamber in Ohio was dismantled.

Gas chambers, which use carbon monoxide to painfully kill unwanted shelter animals, are considered inhumane by most animal welfare groups and, I would hope, anyone with a conscience.

“Animals are placed into a small, dark box, one that’s sometimes full of the smells of the animals who came before them — many of whom may have urinated or defecated before they died,” notes the Humane Society of the United States. “For several minutes, they may be in the box, terrified, clawing and calling for a way out. They may struggle for air or begin convulsing before finally losing consciousness.”

If you want to honor Daniel’s life, please consider making a donation to Eleventh Hour Rescue, Pilots N Paws, or your local animal shelter or rescue group. If you live in Wyoming or Utah, contact your representatives and urge them to pass laws banning the use gas chambers in animal shelters.

“After getting his second chance, Daniel was a little Beagle with a big mission to help save the lives of other homeless animals,” Eleventh Hour Rescue wrote on its Facebook page June 29. “His life truly was spared for a greater purpose and our rescue was honored to play a part in his story.” Amen.

Photo: PawshPal/YouTube

Border Collie Mix Thrown from Idaho Car Wreck Found…Herding Sheep

During a car crash on an Idaho street Sunday morning, a 2-year-old Border Collie/Heeler mix named Tillie was thrown from one of the vehicles involved. She ran off into a field — and then seemed to disappear.

The Idaho State Police (ISP) issued a news release asking for witnesses to the wreck and urging everyone in the area to keep an eye out for Tilly.

“Tilly has no tail, a dark-colored face, weighs approximately 70 pounds, and was wearing a multi-colored plaid and tan-colored collar with a name tag containing the owner’s contact information,” the news release said. “Tilly’s family is from Hayden and is doing all they can to find the dog.”

Two days later, Tilly was discovered doing what Border Collies like to do: She had found her way to a farm and was herding the sheep there.

Although she lost some weight and was pretty thirsty, Tilly’s owner said the lucky dog was otherwise fine, KHQ reports.

However, as someone commented on the KHQ Local News Facebook page, “Once a Border Collie/Heeler mix has had a taste of sheep herding, he/she will never be satisfied with nipping at the feet of toddlers again.” True.

Photo: Idaho State Police

Devoted Dog Follows Owner to Hospital and Waits for Him There

When Cemal Senturk was rushed to a hospital in Trabzon, Turkey, last week, his little white dog, Boncuk (which means ‘bead” and is pronounced Bon-DJUK), followed the ambulance there. And for nearly a week, Boncuk returned to the hospital to wait for Senturk.

“She comes every day around 9 a.m. and waits until nightfall. She doesn’t go in,” security guard Muhammet Akdeniz told the news agency DHA, according to the Associated Press. “When the door opens, she pokes her head inside.”

Senturk’s daughter, Ayşe Çapkınoğlu, would bring Boncuk home each day, but the dog always managed to go back to the hospital.

“My father took him in nine years ago, fed and raised him. And Boncuk showed his loyalty this way,” Çapkınoğlu told the Daily Sabah. “Boncuk looked around and started to cry when my father called out his name while getting treatment in the hospital room. We were surprised.”

(As for the different pronouns, the Associated Press reported that Boncuk is female, while according to the Daily Sabah, Boncuk is male.)

Yesterday, Senturk, who suffered a blood clot in his brain, was allowed to go outside in a wheelchair to greet his devoted dog. Senturk was later released from the hospital.

“Sometimes I was looking at him from the window of my hospital room and calling out his name,” Senturk told the Daily Sabah. “He was barking and trying to make himself heard. We reunited again. If you show attention to dogs, you will see the same affinity.”

While Boncuk’s devotion to his or her dog dad is amazing, hopefully Senturk’s return home will put an end to the dog’s wandering. But just in case, Senturk should think about getting a locking gate for his faithful little escape artist.

Boncuk is not the only dog who has followed their owner to a hospital. In 2015 a Miniature Schnauzer named Sissy walked over 15 blocks to visit her dog mom in a hospital in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Unlike Boncuk, Sissy actually entered the hospital through its automatic doors. And also unlike Boncuk, Sissy didn’t follow an ambulance there, so it’s pretty remarkable that she was able to find the hospital.

Photo: Demirören Haber Ajansı/YouTube

Awww! Louis, Dumped Dog Without Eyes, Adopted by Blind Man

Because he had an eye infection, the owners of a 3-year-old Lab/Shepherd mix named Louis decided to have both of his eyes removed. And as if that wasn’t bad enough, last year Louis was hit by a car and suffered a broken leg that was never treated.

But Louis’ sad story doesn’t end there. His owners could no longer care for him, so in December they surrendered their sweet and shy dog to an animal shelter. A rescue group saved Louis and brought him to the Helen Woodward Animal Center (HWAC) near San Diego. HWAC is a nonprofit founded in 1972 that provides humane care and adoption for homeless animals, and also offers educational and therapeutic programs for people.

Louis’ case was unlike any other seen at HWAC in nearly 50 years, the center stated on Jan. 11.

“It is incredibly important that people who consider getting a pet know the obligations they take on with these animals,” HWAC Adoptions Director Hella Tyler said. “When people get their pets for free off of Craiglist, they don’t seem to realize that pets come with responsibilities and a monthly expense for their caretaking, including medical care. In turn, these pets will provide their owners an unparalleled love. They pay it back tenfold. It’s just devastating to see an animal treated the way Louis was treated.”

Louis is extraordinary, Tyler said. “He really suffered at the hands of his former owners but he shows no malice towards humankind. He is ready to love the perfect family and he certainly deserves one.”

Before you reach for another tissue, let’s fast forward to this week — and this dog with the tragic past can now be called Lucky Louis.

After receiving dozens of applications and over $25,000 in donations from around the world to help pay for Louis’ care, HWAC has selected the perfect forever home for this special dog.

Louis’ new dog dad is Steve Walker, a veteran Marine who competes in Iron Man competitions as well as triathlons and marathons. Walker has something in common with Louie: He began losing his vision when he was only 18, due to the rare eye disease Retinitis Pigmentosa.

“We were laughing as we were reading on the internet on how to help out a blind dog, and it was pretty much the same thing as for a blind person,” Walker told KGTV.

His Los Angeles home, where he lives with his wife, Kacey, and daughter, Jordan, is already set up for someone without sight. It is one-story and has pocket doors instead of swinging doors, among other special features. Louie shouldn’t have much difficulty at all settling in with his new forever family.

“I think he’s going to pick up on that and I think he’s going to benefit from a lot of the changes we’ve already made to the house,” Walker told KGTV. “So we’re really excited about seeing him adapt to our home and our family, and seeing him flourish, really.”

The Walker family has another rescue dog, a Bulldog named Dragon. Walker said they’re looking forward to the two dogs becoming friends.

Louie’s adoption expenses and a year of veterinarian costs have been covered by generous donations.

“We’re really excited about the future,” Walker told KGTV. You can bet Louis is, too.

To make a donation to help the HWAC save more dogs’ lives, visit their website.

Photo: Helen Woodward Animal Center