In a public service announcement promoting organ donation, a devoted dog is reunited with his deceased owner…sort of.
The heartwarming, 90-second video, titled “The Man and the Dog,” promotes the Fundacion Argentina de Trasplante Hepatico (Liver Transplant Foundation of Argentina). It was created by the ad agency DDB Argentina and directed by Rodrigo Garcia Saiz.
If you get a sense of déjà vu while watching it, it may be because the story is very similar to a plot point in the 2000 movie, “Return to Me” [note that this is an Amazon affiliate link; if you purchase this wonderful film, I’ll get a few pennies].
Without giving too much away, let’s just say the dog in that movie, written by Bonnie Hunt, is also kinda-sorta reunited with his deceased owner.
Notice the similarities in these reunion scenes?
“The Man and the Dog”:
“Return to Me”:
It’s been said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. In that case, Hunt should be very flattered.
Have a box of tissues nearby… here’s “The Man and the Dog.”
Using the new Heartology device from Nikon Asia, a Border Collie named Grizzler has been snapping photos of the world around him from his dog’s-eye view.
Here’s how it works: Grizzler wears a strap with a heartbeat monitor and camera on his chest. When his heartbeat accelerates, a Bluetooth-enabled trigger activates the camera’s shutter.
“With a device that reacts to increased heart rates, we can literally connect emotions to every photo,” says Nikon Asia on its website. “With Heartology, anyone with a heartbeat can become a photographer.”
That’s right — even a dog! Grizzler is the first “pho-dog-rapher” in the world, Nikon Asia notes. So what kinds of photos has “Arfsel Adams” (I came up with that one!) been taking? Here are a few from his gallery.
When will this amazing Heartology device be available in stores, you might be wondering? Probably never. This is likely just a very cute and clever publicity stunt for the brand-new Nikon Coolpix L31 camera.
You can watch Grizzler the pho-dog-rapher in action in this video.
During a search-and-rescue training session last week, a police dog named Thames went missing in the Tararua Range, a mountain range in New Zealand.
For seven days, six people searched for the 4-year-old German Shepherd, including his handler, Constable Mike Wakefield.
On Saturday, just as Wakefield was giving up hope of finding Thames, the team came across a “big, fresh paw print in the mud,” the New Zealand Police said in a news release.
The next day they saw Thames in the foliage, just before a clearing.
“I whistled and called, but he ran off as if to say, ‘Come this way,’ before running back and giving me a big lick,” Wakefield said in the news release.
“He wolfed down half of my salami, which is a treat for him. I gave him a cuddle and we had a big play. I was just lost for words.”
In the video “Thames and Mike’s Big Reunion Moment,” posted on YouTube yesterday by the New Zealand Police, Thames covers his handler’s face with smooches. In a bit of an understatement, Wakefield says, “As you can see, he’s pretty happy to see me and I’m pretty happy to see him.”
Although Thames was “a bit skinnier in the haunches after a week of foraging,” according to the news release, he was well enough to take a four-hour walk down the mountain with his rescuers. It was too windy to attempt to fly him out via helicopter.
Thames and Wakefield are taking a few weeks of annual leave to recover.
“The vet says Thames is remarkably healthy for his ordeal,” Wakefield said today in a news release. “He’s a bit skinny, stiff and sore, but that’s to be expected. We’ve had a good night at home and now we’ll recoup, ease the muscles and then get back into work.”
Wakefield said it was great to have Thames, who is also a family pet, back at home.
“The response from colleagues, the search-and-rescue and civilian volunteers, and the support from members of the public has been amazing,” he said. “I can’t thank people enough.”
In an advertising campaign that would make Don Draper proud, the Battersea Dogs & Cats Home is using interactive billboards in a London mall to help find forever homes for its pets.
Here’s how the ingenious #LookingForYou campaign works: As shoppers approach the Westfield Stratford City mall, representatives from Battersea hand them leaflets with hidden tracking tags. When the shoppers pass the electronic billboards throughout the mall, it looks like Barley, a scruffy, soulful-eyed former Battersea resident, is following them.
“We’re very excited about the #LookingForYou campaign — as a nation of dog lovers, we’re hoping it strikes a chord with people,” said Carly Whyborn, Battersea head of operations, on its website.
“We’re using innovative technology in a way that has never been seen before, and we hope more of our abandoned animals find loving homes because of it.”
Adweek praised the campaign today, proclaiming it the “Ad of the Day.” The concept is “a simple high-tech tug at the heartstrings to remind Brits of the life-changing magic adopted pets can bring to their lives,” wrote David Gianatasio.
The campaign was designed and produced by OgilvyOne UK. Several other companies contributed to the project, including Cisper Electronics, Creation Company Films Limited, Exterion Media, Framestore, Intellifi, Kevin Mallett Photography, Mount Pleasant Studios Limited, REAL Digital International Limited, RFIDiom and Westfield Stratford City.
Here’s hoping Battersea soon finds its kennels empty, and OgilvyOne UK wins a well-deserved advertising award.
When David Letterman retires as the host of “Late Show” on CBS later this month, what I’ll miss the most — and I believe most of you animal lovers will agree — will be Stupid Pet Tricks.
Ever since Stupid Pet Tricks was introduced on NBC’s “Late Night with David Letterman” back in the early 1980s — the segment was the brainchild of the show’s head writer at the time, dog lover Merrill Markoe — the most amazing and unforgettable tricks have been performed by dogs, including the following best of the best (that are available on video, at least).
As Letterman always warned: This is not a competition, so please, ladies and gentlemen, no wagering.
10. Sheltie Blows Bubbles in Water Bowl
Misha, a Shetland Sheepdog, learned to blow bubbles in her water bowl “by accident,” according to her dog mom.
9. Pit Bull Bowls a Strike
This trick was actually performed way back on NBC’s “Late Night” in the mid-’80s, but needs to be included on this list. A Pit Bull named Hammer proves he truly deserves, as Letterman says, the 1985 Bowler of the Year trophy.
8. Blindfolded Border Collie Catches Frisbee
In the first Stupid Pet Trick after Letterman moved to CBS, Jeff, a Border Collie, catches a Frisbee while blindfolded.
7. Lab Mix Climbs Ladder
Lexie, a Border Collie/Lab mix from Calgary, Alberta, manages to climb up an 8-foot ladder and then jump into her dog dad’s arms.
6. Border Collie Drinks from Glass
A Border Collie named Sweet Sundance holds a drinking glass between his paws and enjoys a “dog drink.” (Letterman asks if it’s water from the toilet, but no, it’s beef-flavored water.)
5. Cattle Dog Mix Jumps Rope Double-Dutch Style
Geronimo, an Australian Cattle Dog/Border Collie mix, can jump two — count ’em, two — ropes at once.
“If your dog can’t do that, return him to the shelter,” Letterman jokes to the audience.
4. Jack Russell Terrier, Riding Miniature Horse, Jumps Over Hurdle
Dallie, a Jack Russell Terrier, jumps up on the back of Spanky, a 7-year-old miniature horse, and together they leap over a hurdle.
“This is the kind of thing you see when you’ve been drinking pure-grain alcohol,” Letterman says.
3. Lab Dances the Merengue
Okay, this wasn’t actually an official Stupid Pet Trick, but it’s pretty doggone awesome.
“You think that’s something? The dog makes all the travel arrangements!” Letterman says after the performance.
2. Briard Rides a Scooter
Norman, a big ol’ Briard, hops on a scooter and rides it across the length of the Late Show stage.
1. Beagle Plays Dead Very Realistically
What, without a doubt, was the best Stupid Pet Trick ever? Watch Bailey the Beagle’s amazing response to “Play dead!”
What were your favorite Stupid Pet Tricks? Leave a comment below.
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