ABC News reports that an Animal Befriended by Marine Wanders Into Camp After Two-Day, 70-Mile Journey Through Iraq.

This is a story of a Marine, Major Brian Dennis, and the bond he formed with Nubs, an Iraqi dog he met while serving his second tour in Iraq. Dennis spent months getting to know Nubs. He nursed Nubs back to health when he showed up on base with a deep puncture wound. Dennis’ unit relocated to a new duty station, 70 miles from Nubs. Dennis wanted to take Nubs with him, but keeping a canine was against the rules. He said goodbye to his friend.

Two days later, Nubs Showed up at Dennis’ new duty station, 70 miles away. “I won’t even address the gauntlet he had to run of dog packs, wolves, and God knows what else to get here,” Dennis wrote. “When he arrived he looked like he’d just been through a war zone. Uh, wait a minute, he had,” Dennis wrote.

Soon, Nubs will be living with Major Dennis in Camp Pendleton, CA.

Today is a day for celebrating love, but your pets celebrate their love for you all year long. They show you with their wagging tails, sloppy and wet kisses, and little surprises they leave for you when you least expect. But your pets actually do quite a bit to keep you happy and healthy.

According to the American Animal Hospital Association, animals actually improve the human condition:

The Harvard Health Letter explained that companion animals offer unconditional affection and pet owners’ benefit through lower blood pressure, heart rate, and anxiety levels.

The University of California at Los Angeles found that Medicare patients who owned pets had fewer medical care visits than those who did not.

Australia’s Baker Medical Research Institute evaluated men and women for heart disease risk factors. Researchers found that pet owners had lower blood pressure and lower levels of blood cholesterol and triglycerides in comparison to non-pet owners.

Cambridge University (England) studied how human health could be improved by pet ownership. When investigators concluded their timed study, those with pets reported improvement in general health over those without.

The State University of New York in Buffalo found that people confined to wheelchairs, and who had service dogs, were less depressed, less dependent on caregivers, and more active outside their homes than those without.

So this Valentine’s Day, be sure to take a moment to give your pet some love in return. Pick up a special treat or chew toy on the way home and spend some time thanking them for helping to keep you healthy. And while you celebrate with your loved ones, be sure to be aware of some Valentine’s hazards for your pets:

Chocolate - As delicious as it is to humans, chocolate can be toxic to dogs because it contains theobromine and caffeine, stimulants which can be hazardous — and even fatal — to pets. According to the ASPCA, chocolate toxicity is one of the most common poisonings seen by vets.

Jewelry - Sparkling gems are appealing to our four legged friends, too. Fido or Kitty’s instincts may tempt them to taste the jewelry, causing stomach ailments and possible breathing difficulties. Don your new jewelry immediately, or place it safely away.

Flowers - Some flowers and plants are dangerous if ingested by pets, including buttercups, calla lilies and tulips. The packaged plant food that accompanies some floral arrangements can lead to stomach problems as well.

Other dangers - A romantic candlelit dinner can turn into a fiery disaster by a pounce on the table from a curious cat. And scented cards and love letters spell danger if ingested.

If you don’t have a pet, then give yourself a great Valentine and adopt a pet - just so happens, we have a few of those available!

Pet insurance is not a new idea, but there seems to be great debate recently about purchasing such policies. As pets become more and more a part of families, it has become harder to say “no” in their time of need. But a recent article on Salon.com asked its readers to think about if there was a point at which they would have to let their pet go due to the inability to pay for care. The article sparked great discussion on CPR’s volunteer message board, and our president took the issue over to her blog. Local TV station WSAV will even have a segment about pet insurance on their news tonight at 6. We invite you to take a few moments and consider what you would do if your pet faced a veterinary emergency. Making a plan now could make the difference in saving their life later.

Dogster and Shutterfly, the leading online photo service, have teamed up to help show the world that wonderful pup of yours! Share sweet moments of you and your pooch, with family and friends. Get as creative as you want!

Free Shutterfly 16×20 Print

Valentine’s Day is coming soon, so we’re giving you a free super-sized print of those you love most. It’s easy to create—all you need is a photo of your favorite pet, person or both. In just a couple of minutes, you can create a memory you’ll cherish forever or that will delight someone special. That’s a $17.99 value just for being a member of Dogster.

Click here for all the details >>>

A couple weeks ago, one of our volunteers emailed me about someone wanting to start a petition for putting another dog park in Savannah, particularly on the Southside. I emailed the person back some questions (such as location, who was sponsoring the petition, etc.), and suggested they get it going online. I’m happy to announce that they have.

PETITION TO THE CITY OF SAVANNAH MAYOR AND ALDERMEN:
The undersigned citizens of Savannah/Chatham County would like an area allocated in Joseph J.Tribble Park for the establishment of a fenced-in dog park. The Joseph J. Tribble Park entrance is at the base of the water tower on Largo Drive near the intersection of Windsor Road. The park has a paved jogging/walking trail around a small lake and a large open area surrounded by woods. It is a perfect location for a dog park!

We know we need more fenced-in dog parks, so take a moment and sign the petition here.