Dr. Dog to the Rescue!

You've heard about dogs rushing into burning buildings to save people trapped inside or barking incessantly to alert their sleeping companions that a fire is near, but have you ever heard of a dog performing a heroic rescue by detecting cancer? In the August 24th issue of People magazine three different dogs found their human companions' cancer before any of the people or their doctors. Two of the dogs sniffed the area nonstop while the third indicated his diagnosis through licking the area repeatedly. All three people were treated and are alive today because of their dogs!

Michael McCulloch, the director of research conducted in San Anselmo California's Pine Street Foundation, has enlisted the help of several dogs to use their powerful sense of smell to detect cancer. The dogs, all pets volunteered by their guardians are "detecting a metabolic waste from the tumor cells, which is chemically different from the normal cells," says McCulloch.

Animals do amazing things that help people. Sometimes, they do some not so amazing things but are helpful all the same. Send me your examples of animals who have assisted people.