I adopted a Border Collie that was to be euthanized because she was not critter friendly. Too much abuse left her with a pin in her leg, matted coat that required clipping, and malnourishment problems. Little by little we made friends. THe day I put her in her crate, with the door open, and told her to stay because her actions were unacceptable, I knew we had become friends. She cried in doggie fashion, whimpered and peeked out at me. She was my best friend for many years and was a loyal guard dog, companion and protector of children, other dogs, cats, etc. Unfortunately she succumbed to cancer last year, Her picture is on my desk and I still greet her every morning. Although I have had many dogs over the years, I can truly say she was, on a scale of one to ten, a twelve.
The day my husband and I visited the SPCA in San Francisco, I immediately fell in love with Sadie. A beautiful 2-year-old Black Lab/Irish Setter mix, she looked through the glass of her room at me with a hopeful look in her eyes. When I went in to meet her, I squatted down and she padded right over to me, put her paws on my shoulders, looked into my eyes and wagged her tail as if to say, "We're going to be great friends, aren't we?" I told my husband she was The One. When he replied that we hadn't seen all the dogs there, I said, "Fine, I'll look, but I'm telling you she is The One." For the last 7 years, Sadie has brought us so much love and laughter, we can't imagine life without her!
I had a Cocker Spaniel who passed away in 1999. My mother who is disabled in a wheelchair took the news very badly. Some friends of mine told me to get another dog. We finally decided to go to the nearest shelter and look for a small dog. We live in a apartment so small dogs would be our choice. As we went through the cages only large monster dogs were there. At the beginning there were 2 empty cages. When we finally got back to the beginning one of the empty cages had the cutest little white poodle. It was twirling and wagging its tail. I fortunately was the first on the list as he was just put in the cage. I came back 5 days later and brought him home after his operation (neuter). The vet told me he was around 1 year old. They also told me he was found running just outside of town along the highway and a couple found him on their way to California. They brought him back into town as they already had 2 large dogs. That was 10 yrs ago. Just remember Dogs leave footprints on your heart!
I had two Cocker Spaniels and one pass on. We were all heartbroken, especially my remaining Cocker. Since I had always donated items to our local Humane Society, I thought I should go in and take a look. Another small dog for my Cocker would be best. But sometimes things don't work out like planned. There were all types of dogs there but one caught my eye. A beautiful Lab/Chow mix named "Baku" walked to the end of the run and just wagged her tail at me. She was a year and a half years old and already 70 lbs. Oh, but how black and shiney was her coat and she seemed to like me, too. The workers told me that most people won't take the big dogs, so I said, "wrap her up". My cocker and she get along fine and she has just turned 7 with us. She swims and plays and is just frankly, our love. We will never buy a dog again....Please rescue..you will not find a joy like getting a dog who needs you. The return on love is many times over.
When my husband and I first moved to Texas, I was driving to work one morning and saw someone tying a dog to the local shelter's door. I was so upset that I turned around, but by the time I got back the shelter workers had already brought the dog inside. When I told my husband, he suggested we add a dog to our family. I am adamantly opposed to breeders, so we started looking into rescue organizations. We found Legacy Boxer Rescue in Dallas and over the course of a few weeks, applied and was approved to adopt. We adopted an eight year old female we named Macy-the love of our lives! We started volunteering as foster parents shortly thereafter and "foster failed", meaning we adopted one of our fosters. Chipper was then four and just celebrated his 2nd birthday with us, Macy her third. Both are such an important part of our lives-we can't imagine our family without them! There are so many animals out there needing homes...please adopt!!
I have a Lhaso Apso named Hershey. He is black with while paws and a white beard. When our eyes connected at the yearly Petsmart Adoption I knew he was to be OUR DOG. I called my new husband, and said come quick. You need to meet our new doggie! He did. He spent an hour with him after I had done so also. We both fell in love at first sight. We have now had him for 3 years and have moved from Ohio to South Carolina. He has kept his loving personality and even showed us that he could withstand a long ride, a move to a hot climate and most of all a NEW BROTHER named Dakota, a Cocker Spaniel. We really love our dogs. Hershey knows we rescued him. HE THANKS US EVERY DAY with the JOY he brings us.
Every Animal I get is a rescue. Thats the best way to go. The dog I have now I have had since I was twelve, she was two years old and really cheap. She had a bad write up and no one was williing to take the risk she might maul their cat, run away, be snooty and moody. I did. The fact was she never gave me any troubles. Sure once in awhile she wonders farther than she should but never into the streets. She hasn't been in any dog fights that weren't lost at least, all six of my cats are still in perfect condition. She has a hard time hearing when I tell her to stop sleeping on the couch but she always keeps my feet warm. A mutt to the core she is smarter than she lets on and couldn't be any more adorable. A 30 pound power house she keeps our boy dog (another rescue) in line and loves swimming and fetch, even a car drive. She gives the most effective puppy eyed look at dinner time too. My bad times get better when here entire body is wiggiling just to say hi to me when I come home.
My mom's best friend has a cabin on a lake Northern Montana, and she invited us to stay with her for two weeks one summer. My brother, my mom, and I packed up the car and drove up from Denver. It was a beautiful place and walks, hikes, and picture taking dominated the trip. Once when my mom and her friend were walking the friend's dog, they saw a couple walking and a dog running around off-leash. They asked the couple to put their dog back on the leash as my mom's friend's dog gets nervous around other dogs. To this they merely replied "It's not our dog." So this large, black dog runs as fast as he can up to the dog they're walking, and to their surprise they get along. The new dog follows them back to the cabin where he's given a much-needed bath (revealing that he's a beautiful black lab) and some food. His original owners were never located and Buddy quickly became the happiest and most lovable member of our family. Though he would never harm a fly, he's an intimidating 100lbs.
One summer I had climbed onto the roof of our barn to enjoy the night. I heard something moving around on the ground floor, and went down there expecting a raccoon or some other critter. It was a very scared, very hurt dog. I went in to get my dad and some dry food for the dog, and we coaxed him into better light. The poor thing was emaciated. Part of his ear had been torn off. One of his toes was missing. His tail had been chopped off- not docked, but just hacked off, and recently. He had a wound on his face. He sores were infected, he was covered in mud..this dog was a wreck! Being in a small town, and being very good friends with the local vet, we called him up to come see this dog. We took up to the vet's office and he worked his magic. From the looks of it, he'd been badly abused, and probably ran away. He looked to be a pitbull/black lab mix, and despite how hurt he was, he was the sweetest dog ever. So we named him Lucky, and now he's a healthy, well loved member of the family!
