Good morning, friends, this is Tennessean columnist Brad Schmitt , pretty pumped that the temperatures are dropping just a little bit anyway. I've been getting up around 5:30 a.m. to walk my sweet rescue doggy, LeeLee, so she won't get roasted with the recent afternoon temperatures around, oh, "fiery pits of hell."
And speaking of pets, this column is about to go to the dogs, y'all.
Wanna save a wiener dog? (I think you do.)
I saw a press release this week that said, "Tennessee Dachshund Rescue was recently awarded a $15,000 grant from The Grey Muzzle Organization." And I thought to myself, Tennessee has a dachshund rescue? Someone loves wiener dogs so much that they gather up unwanted dachshunds and try to find them homes?
The answer is yes, and that person is Leslie Hardin, who did lots of dog rescue work in Georgia before moving here several years back. In Georgia, she came across a dachshund in a rural shelter named Finn, who had a genetic condition that made him look like a dinosaur. 👀
Finn needed special meds and special food, and the shelter was about to euthanize him, but Leslie couldn't stand that idea. So she adopted Finn, loved on Finn and kept Finn healthy until he died last year at the ripe old age of 14.
Leslie started Tennessee Dachshund Rescue, basically, out of her home in Cookeville, Tenn., in 2019. She gets wiener dogs from shelters in Nashville, Williamson and Rutherford counties. And Leslie has taken them to veterinarians, including Blue Pearl, Animal House, Good Samaritan, and Nashville Vet Speciality, to check out the pooches.
Copeland Vet in Cookeville often houses the dogs until they're are adopted. And, Leslie says, Tennessee Dachshund Rescue takes any wiener dog "no matter how old, sick or abused."
And you, kind reader, can help by volunteering, or fostering one of these dogs or adopting one through the nonprofit's website, tndachshundrescue.com .
Here's another way to help and have fun: Tennessee Dachschund Rescue is having a "Dachtoberfest" 5 to 10 p.m. Sept. 21 at New Heights Brewing Company at 928 Rep. John Lewis S. in Nashville.
You can buy your $55 tickets — which includes an open bar and, yes, dachschund races — at the organization's website .
So that's why Tanya Tucker's hair is pink
Big ups to country star Tanya Tucker, who got a big award from the big nationwide cancer-battling nonprofit Susan G. Komen on Saturday at a multi-artist concert at Ascend Amphitheater.
Tanya is among millions who have been touched by breast cancer. She has posted about her friend Shirley Burns' battles and Tanya even dyed her hair pink to support Shirley.
Beyond that, Tanya was the headliner for a Kiss Breast Cancer Goodbye concert last year, and it raised more than $30,000.
So Susan G. Komen gave Tanya its 2024 Promise Award on Saturday to recognize her philanthropy. Tanya's in good company; Dolly Parton got the same award last year.
Congrats, Tanya!
Our Nashville astronaut has one super proud brother
One of my favorite parts of seeing Vanderbilt cardiologist Eiman Jahangir become the first Nashvillian in space Thursday morning? Seeing how dang proud his brother, fellow Vanderbilt physician and Nashville COVID czar Alex Jahangir, was of him.
"Witnessing my brother Eiman Jahangir launch into space as the first Nashvillian and the first physician on a commercial space flight was nothing short of extraordinary," Dr. Alex posted on his Facebook page.
"His journey is a powerful reminder of the relentless pursuit of one's dreams, no matter the obstacles. From his early passion for space to overcoming countless challenges, he never lost sight of his goal. This is a lesson we should all carry with us: perseverance is key to achieving our dreams."
Thanks for spending another week with me and the Good News with Brad Schmitt. You can have your friends sign up for this weekly emailed newsletter at tennessean.com/goodnews .
Also, how's about telling me some good news from your neck of the woods, please. Find me at brad@tennessean.com . And dig into more feel-good stories below.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Meet the wiener dog whisperer
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