Let Them Eat Cake!

Henley the rescued sheepdog paid an end of the year visit to Good Intent Elementary School in Deptford, New Jersey recently to personally thank the students there for raising awareness and funds for their local animal shelter. Henley knows first hand about the need for such kindness, having been rescued himself by his "mom" Judith Kristen, who turned Henley's journey into a book, My Name is Henley: My Life and Times as a Rescued Dog. In addition, Henley is the poster dog for an animal awareness campaign for students entitled An Old Dog Learns New Tricks.

Henley has also racked up a bunch of awards including the Lions Club Citizen of the Year. Not bad for a shaggy dog with cataracts and arthritis that necessitates that he wear "orthopedic" shoes.

The highlight of the visit was of course his shagginess himself but also a cake baked by none other than Duff Goldman, television's Ace of Cakes, that resembled a donation box stuffed with doggie goodies surrounded by a bone, collar and dog toy. Yes, the entire thing was edible, much to the delight of the entire student body.

Henley was rescued by Kristen in 1998 after he was chained and left for dead in a mud pit at a Lancaster puppy mill. "When I first got Henley, I said, 'Come over here to your new mom,'" Kristen said. "He wagged his butt so hard--most sheepdogs don't have tails--that he knocked himself right over. He was just a good dog from the get-go."

To see a photos of Henley's visit, including the amazing cake, click here. As for learning the life lessons of kindness, forgiveness, benevolence and unconditional love, go rescue your own Henley.