The top 5 feel-good stories of 2012
This picture of a Minnesota man soothing carrying his dog through Lake Superior pulled heartstrings across the nation as soon as it was posted online in August. It was much more than a peaceful photograph: John Unger is committed to ailing dog Schoep, regularly taking the shepherd mix into the water to help ease the pain of the canine's arthritis. Photographer Hannah Stonehouse captured the moment.
Unger's newfound celebrity changed his and his dog's life. For the past few months, the Bayfield man received emotional letters and donations from all over the world. Over $10,000, mostly from moved strangers, pays for weekly laser therapy. "He has a much better life," Unger told CBS Minnesota WCCO-TV in September. "He is not in pain as much, and he's enjoying himself again." The leftover money is being used to start Schoep's legacy foundation, which will help other animals in need.
