Bena Mae’s Kitchen: Dogs to the Rescue

 In the aftermath of the devastating earthquake in Haiti on Tuesday, an unprecedented number of rescue dogs from around the globe are being deployed to help. The specially trained canines are being rushed to the area to sniff out survivors trapped in the rubble and locate Haitians who lost their lives. For the present time, countries from around the world have put aside their differences and are pulling together to save the lives of the Haitians who live in the poorest nation in the Caribbean. 

The whole world has witnessed these dogs doing miraculous things in finding people who are trapped under huge concrete blocks and buildings, who can neither be seen nor heard by the human search and rescue teams. It’s almost beyond miraculous. I am amazed at the accuracy of the dogs findings and their single-minded relentlessness in staying with a body, no matter how long, until the rescuers take over. Truly angels of mercy.

Another amazing dog story happened this past week when a 6.5 magnitude earthquake shook buildings in Eureka, California. The dog, Sophie, had been lolling on the floor of the newsroom of the Times-Standard when she detected the first vibrations.

But instead of running for cover, the dog immediately darted in the direction of her owner’s desk, apparently to alert her to the danger. Then she escorts her owner safely down the stairs and out the building. “I think at the very least she knew something bad was about to happen,” the owner said.

I saw the clip of Sophie nervously pacing and aware of the impending earthquake 6 seconds before it started and how she thought not of herself but of the danger to her owner. This kind of care and devotion are to be prized beyond words. “Mans’ Best Friend” truly describes the love of a dog for its owner.

I like this quote from an unknown writer:  Many years ago when an adored dog died, a great friend, a bishop, said to me, “You must always remember that, as far as the Bible is concerned, God only threw the humans out of Paradise.”

We mere mortals could take a lesson from our canine friends. We need to stop the “me first” attitude and show our love and compassion for those around us and, yes, farther afield, for aren’t we really ‘our brother’s keeper,’ after all? 

This recipe came from an estate sale obtained in the family collection from the Cannon Estate in Arlington, Texas in 1992. 

Caramel Apple Pie

9 inch whole piecrust, unbaked

10 whole caramel candies quartered

1/3 cup flour

3 cups apples unpeeled and diced (I would suggest Granny Smith apples)

2/3 cup caramel ice cream topping

2 teaspoons lemon juice

1/2 cup pecans chopped

Preheat oven to 375.

In medium bowl combine caramel pieces and flour.

Add apples, caramel topping and lemon juice then mix well and pour into crust.

Top with pecans then bake 45 minutes.

Cool before serving (I prefer it warm with maybe a dollop of vanilla ice cream.)