Canine Hero Hall Of Fame

'Dakota' Lingenfelter

“Dakota embodied the very finest that love, courage, devotion and life could be.” Dr. Greg Ogilvie, in his nomination of Dakota for the Alabama Animal Hall of Fame, continued by saying “Dakota and Mike became ambassadors to the world, spreading the word about the importance of service dogs in society. The duo touched the lives of hundreds of thousands of people through public appearances, to television shows such as Good Morning America to a camp for kids with cancer. Few two legged people have ever had the opportunity to touch the lives and hearts of so many.”

Dr. Marty Becker from Good Morning America said of Dakota, “Hey this wasn’t a dog. Dakota was heeler and healer, anxiety reliever and angel, trusted medical sentinel and teacher, fur-covered hot water bottle and friend.”

In 1995, Mike had been faced with two serious heart attacks and open heart surgery. His doctors were trying to find a way to motivate him to continue living. And so it was that a golden retriever named Dakota rescued Mike, as he himself had been rescued.

Dakota gave Mike back his dignity, his pride and his life by being able to detect and alert Mike to oncoming heart events. This 98 pound, red-haired, four-legged angel had a special gift. Ultimately, as part of his journey, Dakota fought a courageous and dignified battle against cancer for his own life.

Mike says that “Dakota gave me what I needed to recover from my depression with understanding and purpose in life. He challenged me to go forward and to present his gifts to the world. When I accepted his challenge, he provided me with the protection I needed to go out into the world by forewarning me of the onset of my angina attacks.” Mike was then able, through a period of grace, to find safety and comfort.

Dakota was able to reach millions as ‘spokesdog’ of sorts for the positive effect of pets on human health and well-being. Dr. Becker says, “From top television shows and magazines, human hospitals to veterinary clinic waiting rooms, corporate boardrooms to street corners, Dakota was a competent, confident, compassionate messenger for the amazing ability of pets to impact human health, in a way that is significant, lasting and measurable.”

Mike wrote a book about his ‘life-saver’…. Angel by my Side…anyone involved with the human animal connection will find this book just might save your life too.

From Mike: "I am so sorry to hear about Penny. But you and I have been blessed with a true gift form God! The work and love that Penny and Dakota have started will live on long after you and I are gone. I know that your life was changed by Penny being present and that you still have much more to do on her behalf. Dakota still oversees my life on a daily basis and that Penny and Dakota will be there to welcome us after we leave our place here on earth."