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Roland Hendel fought back tears as he described leaving behind his beloved family dog Odin as raging wildfires approached his home.

Source: A dog called Odin survives California wildfires after refusing to abandon his goats – Home | As It Happens | CBC Radio

Now there’s a dedicated dog.

Inmates in Texas prisons have donated more than $50,000 to relief efforts following the devastation left by Hurricane Harvey in August.

Source: Texas inmates donate more than $50K to Harvey relief efforts | TheHill

From their commissary accounts. That’s … unexpected. And heartening.

The train featured in the Harry Potter films picked them up after their canoe was swept away.

Source: Hogwarts Express rescues family stranded in Highlands – BBC News

Well, there’s an adventure! Hopefully more people won’t “get lost” expecting the same style of rescue. 🙂

On Thursday around midday, Sacramento large-animal veterinarian Emily Putt and Petaluma horse hauler Hilary Hansen drove past the police barricade to a ranch in Calistoga. Putt, 27, and Hansen, 29, had been strangers before the Wine Country fires struck, but since meeting at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds on Tuesday they have become fast friends by working together throughout the fire zones, rescuing animals that owners had to leave behind during evacuations. They knew that three horses were stranded on the ranch. The two volunteers, along with Hansen’s friend Omid Boostani, 26, have evacuated at least 50 animals themselves, assisted with another 75 evacuations and helped coordinate countless others.

Source: Amid fires, young volunteers team up to rescue horses from evacuated ranches – SFGate

The worst once again brings out the best. I’m sure that this is only the tip of the iceberg of stories of people helping one another (and their animals) in the Sonoma fires.

We came back from the call and found our groceries already bagged, and a handwritten note that said “Paid with Love.”

Source: Richland Fire & Emergency Services Facebook page (no account required)

Small actions. Big impact.

… pretty much all of the world has gotten better over the last two centuries and even over the last few decades.

Source: Everything Is More Awesome – Foundation for Economic Education – Working for a free and prosperous world

Further quoting the article: “In short, the world is wonderful. There are many reasons to think it will get more wonderful. With the ceiling on life expectancy rising regularly, I hope I’m around to see it.”

Me too. 🙂

Oakland Park’s Funky Buddha Brewery will brew a beer, Florida Rebuilds, and donate all the sales to the charity Children of Restaurant Employees, to help workers affected by Hurricane Irma in the Florida Keys.

Source: Funky Buddha brews beer to raise $100,000 for Florida Keys hurricane relief | Miami Herald

Besides the cute name, I love this as an example of how various people and businesses are coming together to help one another.

MGM owns the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, and announced it would donate the huge sum to fund humanitarian assistance for families of the victims and the first responders of Sunday’s mass shooting.

Source: MGM Resorts Donates $3 Million to Las Vegas Shooting Victims | TMZ.com

While there are several grass-roots efforts to raise funds for the victims, it’s good to see MGM step up like this, even though they didn’t really have to.

“I thought the whole world would think I had gone crazy,” said Gladys Weikle.

Source: Tutu-wearing grandma celebrates 98th birthday with confetti- and cake-filled photo shoot – ABC News

So great. Quoting the photographer: “She is exactly who I want to be when I grow up. We should all aspire to be more like Gladys; young at heart!”

A Gilbert, Arizona car dealership plans to give a free truck to the 29-year-old Iraq War veteran who seized a truck and used it to drive critically injured victims to safety after the Las Vegas shooting.

Source: Dealership To Give Free Truck To Veteran Who Stole Truck To Save Vegas Shooting Victims | KING5.com

The best quote from the news article, to me, was this from Mr. Winston himself: “There’s a lot of unsung heroes that day that stood up and helped people.”

Indeed, there were. The worst brings out the best.