OkcPets Magazine January 2024

24 OKC Pets • January / February 2024 Halo, the Miracle Dog Turnpike Rescue Starts Canine on a New Path Story and photos by Karen Dugan Holman, B.S., B.S.E., M.S. C ombativeness, anger, hostility, cruelty, and lack of empathy and compassion plague our society. This negativity has given me a purpose behind sharing a story of love, grit, and a whole lot of luck. I know many of you have an emo- tional connection to animals and nature. E. O. Wilson described biophilia as the human attraction to animals as an innate tendency to focus on nature and life. He believed that humans have an emotional connection or fascination with other forms of life and nature, a sense of phylogenic relationship with all life on earth. I am hopeful that this story reminds you of the goodness of people, and you will share your warm stories with others. Instead of focusing on all the cruelty and negativity, especially in the animal world, focus on the positive connection experi- enced with animals and the joy they bring. When we are compassionate, we are aware of a deep connection between ourselves and all creatures. People Respond to the SOS Oklahoma winters often bear down on us with a vengeance. A few Januarys ago, we went from a warm and sunny morn- ing to ice, “snizzle” (an Oklahoma term for precipitation that combines snow and sleet), and blistering wind, topped off with beautiful snow glistening under the stars. My son Matt was traveling from Oklahoma City to Tulsa to pick up his dog that we were dog-sitting. On the Creek Turnpike, the snowplows were whizzing by, and traffic was slowed because of ice under the blanket of frosty snow. As Matt exited the turnpike, a truck driver in front of him tossed something out the window. Swerving to not hit it, Matt noticed the object moving through the snow in a white blur. It was a puppy, white with black spots, running the wrong way toward oncoming traffic. That was when I got the call to help. I put an alert on social media for as- sistance. I met my son on the side of the turnpike westbound between County Line Road and Elm Street. With car flashers blinking, we drove slowly on the shoulder, expecting the worst. We could see flick- ering flashlights held by other people in search of this fast-as-lightning pooch. We approached a northside incline as ominous as the snowy ski slopes of Colorado. At the same moment, we shouted, “Did you see that?” We both saw glistening eyes. Was it the pup, a raccoon, or just wishful imag- ination? I stopped the car, and out Matt jumped, adorned in loafers and a suit. He began the repetition of crawling up the incline, sliding back down, climbing back up, and continuing the pattern until he reached the top. He screamed, “Oh, my gosh!” It was the puppy! Our hopes were quickly dashed when the pup ran lickety-split along the jogging trail fence with Matt following — sliding, climbing, and running. I drove carefully on the turnpike shoulder to try to keep up. The crafty pup squeezed through a hole in the fence, continuing to escape on the trail. Matt skied down the hill on the soles of his dress shoes and jumped back into At this moment on January 11, 2018, Halo jumps into Karen Holman’s car. Holman is wearing her new Christmas pea coat. To this day, if you look hard enough, you can still find Halo’s fur entwined in the wool. Barry Manilow is singing“It’s a Miracle” on the radio when Halo jumps into Karen Holman’s car. Halo is a miracle dog!