There are few things we here at Warming Glow take seriously. The list basically boils down to Louis C.K., Breaking Bad, Community, and, most importantly, animals. Especially dogs, despite what you may think after we put Corgi Friday on hiatus. But we love them, we swear — a half-decent dog is better than the best human — and we hope we’ve done a good job rounding up all the best canine stories for you over the past 12 months.
With that in mind, consider this post WG’s collection of THE BEST dogs that appeared on TV in 2012. Some are from scripted shows, others from local news report, but they’re all very important, and a good reason why this year didn’t totally blow. 2012 highlights: dogs and…Breaking Bad, basically.
#10. Volkswagen dog commercial
The company is referring to it as an ad for an ad, but whatever it is, it’s fantastic – simple, funny, dogs. It has nothing to do with actually purchasing, owning or driving a Volkswagen, and why should it? Give me dogs barking the Star Wars theme and I’m going to at least consider buying your product. (Via)
#9. The puppy Kathie Lee Gifford dropped on its head
(Via)
#8. Direwolves from Game of Thrones
Grey Wind > Drago. Discuss.
#7. Champion from Parks and Recreation
According to NBC:
Lucy was acquired from Pit Bull Rescue in Los Angeles in 2004. No one knows how Lucy lost her leg, but it was likely at a young age because she is so agile. Lucy was featured in a Crown Royal commercial and was an extra in Hotel For Dogs. Lucy’s funniest role was for Jackass 2, where she retrieved her own (fake) leg (Via)
#6. Zander, the dog that traveled two miles to be with his cancer-stricken owner
Zander, the 7-year-old white husky above, is certainly deserving of some extra treats to gnaw on: after his owner was hospitalized with a skin condition, a heartbroken Zander left his Bay Shore home and traveled two miles to the Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center to be by his side. “He’s gotten out in the past, but never gone to that location or anywhere near [the hospital],” said owner John Dolan. (Via)
Heart, warmed.
#5. Car-driving dogs
After weeks of indoor training on simulators learning how to shift, brake and steer, three shelter dogs actually slipped behind the wheel of a Cooper Mini and hit the road.
Their trainers from the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) used a series of instinctive behaviors to teach Monty, Ginny and Porter to operate the vehicle.
The dogs will receive two months of training with help from handlers, and then try their skills solo on a closed test track. (Via)
(Via)
#4. Dog with a blog from Dog with a Blog
It began with a breathless write-up:
Move over, The Simpsons. I have a new favorite series. And it’s called: DOG WITH A BLOG. (Via)
Then a scene-by-scene breakdown:
Dogs should not roll their eyes. (Via)
Then we followed Dog-with-a-Blog-Gate:
Here are the facts kids! Disney is trying to trick the public by slowly replacing the hundreds of press images of Kuma and slipping in new images of Mick. Easiest way to tell the difference between the two dogs is that Kuma is about 15 lbs smaller and his left (brown ear) is raised and arched. Micks left ear (the brown one) lies all the way down flat. Mick also has a much darker nose. (Via)
In summary:
#3. The Queen’s corgis
(Via)
#2. Bone Pugz-N-Harmony
I’m just assuming there’s already a TV show in development for these guys.
#1. The puppies that kept a lost 10-year-old boy with Down Syndrome warm overnight
A 10-year-old boy with Down Syndrome reported missing in Marion County overnight has been found.
The family said Kyle Camp was watching TV around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday before he went missing. They searched for him until 7 p.m. and then called police. Dozens of volunteers and the sheriff’s department searched for the boy all night. Officials said at least 150 volunteers were searching for the boy.
A volunteer searcher said he followed his family dog along a creek in thick brush and found the dog’s puppies with the boy around 9:30 a.m. Wednesday…“I heard the dogs barking again and followed him down there and started hollering for the puppies and I hollered for him and he hollered back. He was in the creek about a half a mile over the ridge,” said searcher Jamie Swinney.
Officials said the boy was wet and had no shoes. They think the puppies kept him warm overnight. (Via)
This is also the all-around TV story of the year.