Today, the AWESOME is halfway around the world in Niigata, Japan. Tougen Yoshihara, the abbot of the historic Youkoku Temple in Gosen City, was walking his one-year-old beagle, Chico. Tougen gave Chico a second chance by adopting him after he was returned to the kennel for being too loud, and was doomed never to be adopted. On their walk, a bear suddenly appeared on the path. Tougen attempted to flee, tripped, and dislocated his shoulder. Before the bear could attack, Chico, the once-abandoned dog, used his loud bark and chased the bear off into the woods. Still recovering, Tougen says Chico saved his life that day. Second chances and the super power of a loud bark, THAT’S AWESOME.
