Devoted dog refused to leave goats – entire herd found safe

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Devoted dog refused to leave goats
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A devoted dog proved himself to be a hero to a herd of goats left behind in the devastating wildfires which swept through Sonoma County, California.  When Roland Hendel and his family were forced to leave their rural property, his dog Odin, a Great Pyrenees, refused to give up his guardian duties.

Hendel explained to ABC 7 News, “He was determined to stay with the goats and I had to let him do it.” Hendel managed to get his other dog and cats to safety, but there was no way to get the eight rescued goats off of the property. Hendel feared that his faithful dog and beloved goats were doomed. In a YouCaring fundraiser, the despair was voiced, “I was sure I had sentenced them to a horrific and agonizing death.”

Days later, when the raging fire was gone, Hendel was able to return to the property, which was completely destroyed. Amazingly, Odin and his goats were found alive. The joyous discovery is recounted in the family’s fundraiser:

We found a burned, battered, and weakened Odin, surrounded by his 8 goats, and several small deer who had come to him for protection and safety. Odin was weak, and limping, his once thick and beautiful coat singed orange, his whiskers melted. Even now as i write this, I am crying tears of gratitude and awe at his bravery and devotion.

Odin has been reunited with his family, and his canine sister, Tessa, and he is recuperating from the trauma of the fire that he miraculously survived. His family lost everything, but they are doing what they can to rebuild before winter arrives. The family explained the devastating loss:

 Our pumphouse was destroyed, and we have no fresh water supply for them. All structures on our property were decimated, including the barn we had lovingly rebuilt for them earlier this year. And winter is coming.

We have been overwhelmed with offers for help and assistance from our extended family of friends and loved ones. We would like to ask that you all direct this compassion to Odin, Tessa, and our goats, so we can re-establish a fresh water supply and rebuild their barn before the winter.

Find the fundraiser at this link.

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7 COMMENTS

  1. What a wonderful story and just shows how much animals care about each other. Even several small deer felt comfort there.Hope and pray that this family has the help they need to rebuild the structure for these devoted animals, especially Odin. True meaning of love and devotion by animals.

  2. Odin….You are truly an angel to these goats and deer….You are the best guadian sweety…..Get well…To the Hendel family..So happy everyone is safe ????????????????

  3. Great Pyrenees, are great guardian dogs for live stock. folks get dogs like these breeds and have No Idea what they were originally bred for, i.e.: Australian Shepards, etc bred for herding. so when these dogs go after their kids and nip their heels, the parents go crazy. glad to see a person do the right thing by the breed of dog.
    sorry to hear about his home and outbuildings, but they will rebuild, God Bless them All!

  4. Odin is a true hero, I don’t know how he did it, but he saved his goats and some frightened deer. Prayers for this family.

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