I can't get a recent NPR Weekend Edition story out of my head.
On March 9, 2012, during the Alaskan Iditarod dog-sled race, Scott Janssen of Anchorage, Alaska, known as "The Mushing Mortician" had his dog, Marshall, a nine-year old Husky, collapse after probably clogging his snout's airway with snow (called "tipping"), a common tactic of mushing dogs to cool off. Janssen, who said, "I know what death looks like.", thought his dog was dead but he started mouth-to-snout resuscitation along with chest compressions. Marshall regained consciousness and was rushed to the next Iditarod checkpoint in Rohn, Alaska by the other dogs, where he was checked out by veterinarians and pronounced OK. Marshall was then transported to Janssen's Anchorage home where he stayed while Janssen and his team of dogs finished the iconic dog-sled race.
What I cannot get over is how Janssen returned loyalty to his dog, who had been loyal and faithful to Janssen, for nine years. Television and radio airwaves are full of stories about dogs who save their owners' lives and here is a story in reverse. A man who so loved his dog that he did not hesitate to jump into life-saving mode to rescue his beloved pet.
For those readers who have had (or who have) pets, we/you can probably identify with Janssen's efforts and determination to bring his dog back from the "brink". Janssen is just lucky that he knew how to do CPR on his dog and he is lucky that Marshall responded. Marshall, on the other hand, is one lucky dog, as the saying goes.
Now I really understand what "one lucky dog"means. I wish we humans were like Marshall and Scott........don't you?
Anchorageous imparo
