Posted on Apr 20, 2010
Adopt a Shelter Dog, Dog Abuse, Dog Rescue
Those are words I hate to hear.
Unfortunately, an estimated 150,000 dogs are feeling and living the impact of that statement and that’s just on http://Petfinder.org.
I cringe when I hear someone say they have to get ride of their dog. I know they’re just words. Just words. . .”get rid of”. . .I think of a lot of things we can all get rid of and none of them would even closely resemble a dog. I’d like someone to be able to look in the eyes of their dog and explain exactly what getting rid of them means.
There may be a lot of reasons that a dog should be re-homed or helped in other ways due to a consideration that is in the best interest of the dog. I am very grateful I have my dogs, and while I’ll have them with me for the remainder of their lives, I’m not their first home.
It’s not that there can’t be some synchronicity at play which brings the right dog to us but that’s a different story than a dog that someone chooses to get rid of out of an inconvenience. Some dogs are fortunate to have been loved by several families and have always known a loving environment. Some haven’t. A dog who has gone from love to love to love, is usually a healthy dog. A dog with a history of abuse or neglect in any way, may take time to trust us and adapt to being loved.
Maybe you or I will be lucky enough to be loved by one of these dogs.
http://petfinder.org/
(repost)
Posted on Apr 15, 2010
Adopt a Shelter Dog, Dog Rescue, Puppies, Uncategorized
Puppy Season is upon us! It sounds exciting doesn’t it? Puppies are adorable and make us smile! They smell good and make the sweetest sounds. Later in life, the smell and sounds as they sit in the shelter aren’t quite as appealing. I know there are people who want to share the miracle of birth and the wonder of these new, precious lives with their kids or just for themselves. May I make a suggestion?
If you really want that puppy experience, (or an “accident” occurs because the dog wasn’t neutered/spayed), and you can keep and care for all of the pups throughout their lives, great. If you are like most and about five weeks into the adventure of puppy-dom the thrill is gone and you place ads on Craigslist or wait in front of the grocery store with a basket of pups, here’s an alternative. Connect with a local rescue group or shelter and offer to foster a pregnant dog or her puppies, and then you can have the experience and feel great about your contribution.
There are a lot of reputable breeders who have waiting lists of people wanting their dogs. This is not about you. While I may think a moratorium on breeding sounds like a great idea, it’s not the solution. The ones most responsible for the over-population wouldn’t participate any way!
I know I say it often, but do what you can to help the shelters and rescue/foster organizations. You may be surprised at what may seem like a little feels like a lot to those who need your help.
If you want to adopt a puppy or any dog for that matter, I am very happy to help hook you up with a rescue or to check out the area shelters for you. It can be overwhelming, but trust me, it’s well worth it!
