Earlier this month was National Animal Shelter Week. And in Minneapolis, a Bernese Mountain Dog did its part to help its fellow dogs. The puppy teamed up with its owner to use its natural fetching skills to raise money for animals in need at the shelter. The day Al Cooper brought Davos home was the day his life changed for the better. Cooper had battled cancer, which led to some pretty dark days. “Since I’ve had him, he’s been the perfect companion for me and makes me smile,” said Cooper. “I call him my rescue dog because he saved me in a way.” Cooper also realized that Davos had a knack for saving golf balls that came up a little short – sometimes dozens at a time. They go so many that they had to keep them in the freezer. “They are just a cute couple. Yes, they are, ”said Dusty Barrett-Cooper, Cooper’s wife. “It just made us family. We had great times with it. ”Then came the question – what should you do with all those golf balls? Her answer came one evening while watching TV. There was a commercial for neglected animals and it seemed to affect Davos. “He started crying over all those penniless dogs in those cages and stuff,” Cooper said. “Dusty got the idea that maybe we should sell the balls and donate the money to the Humane Society.” So that’s what they did. They sold the balls to golfers and used that money to return it. On Give to the Max Day, an annual tradition where Minnesotans and people around the world gather to donate as much money as possible to their favorite charities, Cooper and Davos stopped with a check from the Golden Valley Humane Society over $ 1,000. “We have the pleasure of starting the day with a big check from a big dog with a big heart,” said Deanna Kramer, a senior adviser to the company, also bittersweet because it could be the last check they give. “This year Davos is moving a little slower. I’m moving a little slower,” said Cooper. “And (Davos) has already exceeded life expectancy by a few years.” Even so, this dynamic duo have done their best for years to make sure a bad shot went to charity. “We had a hell of a run,” said Cooper. The Golden Valley Humane Society said they will use the Davoser donation to fund day-to-day operations at the shelter.
MINNEAPOLIS (Video: WCCO via CNN) –
Earlier this month was National Animal Shelter Week. And in Minneapolis, a Bernese Mountain Dog did its part to help its fellow dogs.
The puppy teamed up with its owner to use its natural retrieval skills to raise funds for animals in need at the shelter.
The day Al Cooper brought Davos home was the day his life took a turn for the better. Cooper had battled cancer, which led to some pretty dark days.
“Since I’ve had him, he’s been the perfect companion for me and makes me smile,” said Cooper. “I call him my rescue dog because in a way he saved me.”
Cooper also realized that Davos had a knack for saving golf balls.
They hopped on a cart together, drove onto the route they lived on, and Davos found tees that were a little neglected – sometimes dozens at a time.
They go so many that they had to keep them in the freezer.
“They’re just a cute couple. Yes they are,” said Dusty Barrett-Cooper, Cooper’s wife. “It just made us family. We had great times with it.”
Then came the question: what to do with all the golf balls?
Her answer came one night while watching TV. There was a commercial for neglected animals that seemed to affect Davos.
“He started crying about all those penniless dogs in those cages and stuff,” Cooper said. “Dusty got the idea that maybe we should sell the balls and donate the money to the Humane Society.”
So that’s what they did. They sold the balls to golfers and gave that money back.
On Give to the Max Day, an annual tradition where Minnesotans and people around the world gather to donate as much money as possible to their favorite charities, Cooper and Davos arrived at the with a check for $ 1,000 Golden Valley Humane Society over.
“We have the pleasure of starting the day with a big check from a big dog with a big heart,” said Deanna Kramer, a senior adviser to the company.
But it’s also bittersweet because it might be the last check they give.
“This year Davos is moving a little slower. I’m moving a little slower,” said Cooper. “And (Davos) has already exceeded life expectancy by a few years.”
Still, for years this dynamic duo did their best to make sure a bad shot went to a good cause.
“We had a hell of a run,” said Cooper.
The Golden Valley Humane Society said it will use the Davos donation to fund day-to-day operations at the shelter.