Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF Fri-Yay/Goodnews

Today’s good news comes to us from the Daily Paws. Here is the story unedited.

Elderly, Blind Golden Retriever Returns Home After 3 Weeks Missing in Alaska Wilderness

The Alaskan bush is tough terrain for almost anyone, let alone an elderly, blind, golden retriever.

CREDIT: CHENDONGSHAN / GETTY

If you’re a fan of Naked and Afraid, you know how hard it is to survive in the Alaskan wilderness. But let us introduce you to an older, blind golden retriever who held her own in the wild for three weeks alone.

On June 18, the Kubacki family’s beloved fur-baby, Lulu, went missing. “She means everything,” her dad Ted Kubacki told theAssociated Press. “I have five daughters, and they’re 4 to 13 years old, so they’ve spent every day of their life with that dog.”

The entirety of the Kubacki family searched for Lulu for weeks, but to not avail. Cruelly, someone even texted the family, telling them they’d found Lulu—only to then follow up with a “just kidding.”

But on July 5, a construction crew spotted the golden retriever, who they initially mistook for a bear, in a salmonberry bush lining the road they were working on. Lulu was about 15 feet down an embankment off the side of the road, not too far from the Kubacki’s home. Upon closer inspection, the construction workers realized they had found a dog who needed care.

Ted Kubacki told the AP that when he got word Lulu had been discovered, “I called my wife from work and it was just screaming. … She just starts yelling, then she yells to the kids. And I just hear them screaming like crazy.”

“I just expected to come back and be like, ‘Hey, here’s my dog.’ She’s going to jump up and wag her tail and kiss my face, and she couldn’t even pick up her head,” Kubacki told the AP. “She’d been through the wringer.”

But after medical attention, R & R, and food, Lulu is on the mend.

“Slowly but surely she started eating and she was kind of able to pick her head up. But then yesterday, she propped herself up on her front paws by herself, like nestled into me and gave me a kiss and wagged her tail and it was just so great,” Kubacki told the AP.

Kubacki told the AP he was worried about covering Lulu’s vet bills, but people from their town of Sitka had donated hundreds to foot the bill.

“We have our family member home,” Kubacki said.

The good news here is Lulu never gave up.

Todays JohnKu talks about giving up. I hope you have a great weekend.

Love by John W. Howell © 2022

Wanting to give up,

And we think the time has come . . .

Think of those we love.

 

77 comments

  1. Thanks for sharing this very empowering and heart touching story, John! Have a good weekend as well. Best wishes, Michael

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Thank you, Michael. Best wishes to you.

      Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank for sharing the post, Michael.

      Like

  2. Wonderful story and amazing dog. The prankster texter was way out of order. Fantastic and on-point JohnKu. Thanks for sharing, John. Have an awesome weekend 💕🙂

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Can you imagine there are people like that? Thanks, Harmony. You are supposed to be on vacation so I appreciate your comment.

      Liked by 1 person

  3. HEARTWARMING STORY JOHN. I;M A SUCKER FOR A HAPPY ENDING.
    HUGS

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Me too, David. The family and dog didn’t give up and it paid off. Hugs.

      Liked by 1 person

  4. Oh my, this is so heartwarming. I’m so glad they got their fur baby back. Pets are such an important part of the family.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. They are. The poor thing just wanted to get back to her family.

      Liked by 1 person

  5. What a beautiful story. Thanks for sharing, John.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. It is a nice one. Thanks, Jill.😊

      Like

  6. You can feel the love here!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Yes, indeed.😊

      Liked by 1 person

    1. I thought so too. Thanks, Charles.

      Like

  7. Amazing story, John. One with a happy ending.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Which is a good thing. 😊

      Like

  8. Now this story just hit me in the feels. I am always amazed by animals that manage to find their way home; though in this case, with a little help.
    Beautiful story and wonderful haiku, John.
    Happy Friday!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Dale. I feel the same as you. Touches the heart. 😊

      Liked by 1 person

  9. Poor old girl. So glad they found her in time.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Seems like it was just in the nick of time.

      Liked by 1 person

  10. Animals can most often be smarter and capable of more than humans. I am thrilled Lulu is back home!!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Me too, GP. We al could use more happy endings. 😁

      Liked by 1 person

  11. It sounds as though Lulu was found just in time! I love your Johnku, words to live by, for sure.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I think you are right, Liz. She had a long recovery and now it looks like the family can celebrate.

      Liked by 1 person

  12. Awesome story, John. These pups are so precious….

    Liked by 1 person

    1. The time with them is precious for sure, Lori. Always wish it was longer.

      Liked by 1 person

  13. Well, now I need a tissue after reading this. What a wonderful story.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I know right? We animal lovers get emotional about storied like this.

      Liked by 1 person

  14. Thanks for sharing this wonderful story.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. My pleasure Lauren. I’m glad you liked it.

      Liked by 1 person

  15. These stories of animal survival always amaze me. It’s especially touching that a family with children were able to reunite with their pet.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. It is touching. I’m sure Lulu hung on out of love for them.

      Liked by 1 person

  16. Having just been through worrying for a sick pet, I can relate to their fear of losing Lulu and their immense relief and gratitude upon getting her back. What fabulous news. FriYAY, indeed. Thanks, John.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Yes I’m sure you can.

      Liked by 1 person

  17. Gwen M. Plano · ·

    Such a beautiful, heart-warming story! Thank you, John. Your haiku is perfect, and the final words are so wise: think of those we love. 😊

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Gwen. I love these kinds of stories.

      Liked by 1 person

  18. Aw, what a great story! Too bad this senior pup can’t tell us what she faced, what her feelings were, and how she managed to get back home. Must’ve been pretty horrifying, not being able to see and being lost.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I can not imagine. Thanks, Debbie.

      Liked by 1 person

  19. Yet another amazing story involving a dog working their way back home. A happy ending, and a happy way to start the weekend. Thanks for sharing, John.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. My pleasure Bruce. Thanks for the comment.

      Liked by 1 person

  20. Oh my! What a heartwarming story. I’m so glad LuLu found her family again!

    Liked by 1 person

  21. D.L. Finn, Author · ·

    This made me smile.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. That is a good thing, Denise. 😊

      Like

  22. Happy ending to a nice story, John, but with a negative sidenote. Someone texted they’d found Lulu as a joke? Life in the asshole era.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Yeah go figure. Shows what asshats people really are at times.

      Liked by 1 person

  23. What an amazing feel-good story, John. I was riveted and all teary. The happy ending was heartwarming, including the support of the community. A wonderful share. ❤ ❤

    Like

    1. I agree, Diana. It was a great story. Thanks for sharing your comment.

      Liked by 1 person

  24. Sweet story, John. I thought of the movie, “Lassie Come Home.” Showing my sentimental age, I know! TGIF! Take good care of your girls.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Jo. TGIF to you as well. 😁

      Like

  25. This brought tears to my eyes. Such love!

    Like

    1. I’m glad it moved you, Noelle. 😊

      Like

  26. Love truly is the answer and the cure. Lovely story. Lovely the haiku.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you so much, Pamela.

      Liked by 1 person

  27. petespringerauthor · ·

    I’m a sucker for stories like this. Throw in the fact that we’ve always had retrievers (one of them a golden) and our current yellow lab is named Lulu, and there is no way for me not to love this story.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I can see that, Pete. Glad we had a good one for you.

      Liked by 1 person

  28. Wow, I want to completely ignore the prank caller but really, WTF is wrong with some people?

    But hey, in the end we have what counts most of all. The whole family is back together, just when they were beginning to think all was lost.

    Great story Sheriff

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks Pilgrim. I thought so too. 😁

      Liked by 1 person

  29. This story touches my heart.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Yes it is a good one. Thanks, Dan

      Liked by 1 person

  30. I love this story!!!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Me too, Jennie. 😁

      Liked by 1 person

  31. Le sniff!
    Poor pup! But she’s sounding good now.
    The sentiment in the words of your JohnKu is what kept Lulu alive. She waited for her people!
    Kudos to the community for helping with the vet bills!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. It is a good story, Resa. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. XO

      Liked by 1 person

  32. I’m so glad she was found and is doing alright. I hope she makes a full recovery.

    Like

  33. Perhaps the best part of this is the people who helped pay the vet bills. Your John-Ku is very on point. Thank you for this, John. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Yes that was a frosting on the cake kind of thing.

      Liked by 1 person

    1. Yes it is. Thanks.

      Like

  34. I love a great dog rescue story John. Thanks

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I like it too, Cheryl. Thank you.

      Liked by 1 person