If you're thinking about a dog, please consider adopting a rescue pooch.

[11 Bravo]

Several years ago I posted in this forum about the death of my beloved Golden Retriever friend and companion, Josh. At that time I decided I was done; having buried six buddies, I wasn't sure that I was up to another try.
Then it occurred to me how unfair that was to my boys. Didn't they deserve the same chance to train, bond with, love, and ultimately grieve that I had experienced?
So we headed to the shelters. And now the newest member of our family is one part golden lab, and one part traveling scoundrel. My sons are delirious with joy, and my wife is OK with the fact that she now shares my love with another girl.
But had we not adopted her, sher would have been dead within a week. Our sweet girl would have wound up in a crematorium or a dumpster.
So again, if you're looking for a pet, please consider the shelter.

[DebbieCDC]

1. Amen to that

K&R :)

[Dulcinea]

52. Absolutely.

Our family isn't quite ready for a dog, but when we get one, it will definitely be a rescue dog. When I was growing up, all our pets were rescued! We would never consider anything else!

[Inchworm]

2. Agreed

:)

[cry baby]

3. always get my dogs this way! My dogs have been fantastic!

I adopt cats too.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

4. Rescue dogs from haiti!

I would, but I don't know how to speak spanish well enough.
What if "sit" or "stay" really means "attack" and "bite" in the espanol?

[xchrom]

11. French -- not Spanish -- hatians speak French. Nt

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

24. See what I mean... even more language misunderstandings.

I wonder if bilingual dogs are worth more?

[LiberalFighter]

25. Just speak with a French accent. They won't know the difference. hmmm

[HarveyDarkey]

130. Or you could just talk louder

[Sanity Claws]

12. Haiti dogs understand French, not Spanish

If you really want one, don't let the language stop you. It's easy enough to train them in a new language. Really.

[ddeclue]

19. actually CREOLE..not French..

:P

[lukasahero]

61. Aside from your language faux pas (sorry couldn't resist)

Many dogs come to the States from Puerto Rico and the islands where there is a huge problem with strays and overpopulation. You could do worse than rescue one of them.

Mine is from Puerto Rico and we *are* teaching her some commands in both Spanish and English. :hi:

[Bette Noir]

117. Shouldn't that be "faux paws"?

It won't take but a few weeks to get your dog trained up, whatever it's language.

[lukasahero]

132. LOL

Too stupid to have thought of that myself. Good job. :)

We've had my pup for a little over a year and a friend of mine of Puerto Rican descent helped us with a few of the commands so Bella knows "deme su pata" (give me your paw), siéntese (sit) and estancia (stay) in English, Spanish *and* sign. We knew people would go for the "second language" joke as soon as they heard she was from Puerto Rico so we couldn't resist. (FTR, she's the smartest little sh*t I've EVER seen - and I've had dogs my whole life.)

Thanks for the laugh!

[Myrina]

113. ... after reading your comments on this thread ...

... I have to wonder why anyone would allow you to HAVE a dog in the first place?

And if I were your dog, I'd bite you in a New York Minute.

[jesus_of_suburbia]

5. But please realize that if you adopt a dog, it needs to be a lifetime commitment. For better or

worse.


Do not adopt a dog unless you are ready to be responsible for 10-15 years. They should be a member of your family, not a toy that can be discarded when an inconvenience.

[11 Bravo]

9. You are correct (but I thought that was implicit in the OP).

I have buried six dogs, I have never abandoned one.

[madmax]

14. True, they become your furry kid or kids

Sometimes they'll drive you crazy. You can't give back an unruly child and shouldn't give up on an unruly pet. I've stuck it out with both the good, the bad and the ugly and have never regretted them.

Love my fur babies!!

[fadedrose]

22. Lifetime commitment ...and after that too...

My dogs have all refused to leave even when they've died. They live in my memory still..my lifetime for sure.

[a la izquierda]

42. I should staple this to my neighbors' foreheads...

about two weeks ago, i was driving home from a girls' night out and found two labs running through my neighborhood. i stopped the car, to avoid hitting the chocolate one, and when i opened my door, she jumped in. well, i took her and her sister dog home, and put them in my garage for the night (which they promptly trashed-but i have three strays, so the two labs couldn't go in the house). at any rate, we took them to the vet the next morning to see if they were chipped-no luck. called the shelter-but of course, no one would do a sunday pickup. so, my husband and i took the dogs to his work, a doggie daycare and boarding facility. we figured we'd leave them there until we could take them to the shelter. then we put up a notice on craigslist.
next day, he got a call from the the owners. the wife works at a vets office, apparently, and was very grateful that we'd taken care of her dogs. the dogs are escape artists and the batteries on their shock collars went dead. fine. she picked up the dogs and lo and behold, they live down the block.
today, the dogs were running the streets again...but nobody was home all day and i have no clue where the dogs went.

[Bette Noir]

118. I wonder whether that's a lab trait?

My lab was an escape artist, too. No fence could hold her-- if she couldn't jump over it, she'd tunnel under it, or disassemble it. Honest: she could unravel chain link with her teeth. She was good in the house, though, when there wasn't another dog there to be a bad influence.

[Dr.Phool]

123. Oh yeah, I had a Lab-Golden mix.

He would dig under, so I put railroad ties at the bottom of the fence. They weigh 275 lbs each. At about 8 months old, he moved them with his nose. I nailed the chain link to the ties. He worked a hole in the gate with his nose, and walked through.

I gave up. All he did was walk out into the side yard, and lay under the tree until I got home, anyway. We had a jerk at the end of the street who would scream bloody murder if the dog came out of the house off-leash, which was always. He called the cops, when the dog got out of the back yard when I was at work. The cop came, sat in front of the house for 20 minutes, observing, got out walked around, and the dog just laid there watching him. The cop said "fuck it, that dogs not bothering anyone", and left.

We had him put down in October. He was 13 years old. He was a legend in the Stock Market Watch Thread, known as The Fudd.

[a la izquierda]

128. Awww, sweet.

I'm sorry you had to put your buddy down. I have a 13 year old bulldog/boxer mix who's not long for this world. He used to dig under the fence, run a few laps around the house, and then relax on a chair on the porch. The mailman was scared to death, until I told him to bribe the dog (named Knuckles) with treats. Worked like a charm, and Knuckles would then run his laps, greet the mailman and wait for me to get off work.
He had to be left outside because he was super destructive. There was no futon, shoe, car part or book that was safe in my house until that dog got over his separation anxiety.

And now, I'm typing this while he snoozes underfoot. I guess that's what happens when you get ancient, blind and demented.

[a la izquierda]

129. You should see their stockade fence...

it's a total mess

[HillWilliam]

62. I really wish more people understood that

The whole reason for my post on Monday is to try to support the shelter in our county. Our county is very rural, mostly preserved land and wild. Folks come from the surrounding cities and towns to dump their unwanted pets out in the wild thinking they can survive.

Domesticated animals CAN NOT survive in the wild. Most often, they're prey or they just starve to death. Humanity have made them dependent on us over the millenia. They're not a toy; they have emotions and make attachments much the same way we do.

I'd sooner chop an arm off than to leave a furkid somewhere. I've been homeless, slept in my pickup before, but I kept my dogs fed even when I wasn't. They've always had the best, no matter what.

That's the way it'll always be, because I promised them. Promises are made to be kept.

Thank you, jos, for bringing that important point up. You are ever so right.

[farmout rightarm]

76. Our situation is almost the same as yours except our county doesn't even have a shelter

of any kind. But there's no shortage of furry kids needing a home...over the last 20 years we've taken in 9 stray/abandoned dogs and 3 cats which would have ended up like you said...or as roadkill. People from the city must think their dumped-off animals can just live off the land like wild critters...
\

[HillWilliam]

81. Unless we get some help

we might not have a shelter long, either. That's why I entered Callie in the Bissell contest. It's a long shot and there's a lot of competition, but I figured with some DU help we might at least come up to an honorable mention and some awareness.

We do what we can. Lord knows my partner and I live on a shoestring and that's frayed at both ends. But that doesn't mean there's nothing we can do.

[Brickbat]

6. Totally agree. When you get a shelter dog, you save two dogs -- the dog you bring home, and the dog

who can now stay at the spot left at the shelter.

We have had three shelter dogs. They've all been great. One is a "pure" collie (I think he's a puppy mill dog) and whenever people ask about him, they're shocked that he came from a shelter.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

28. Not true.

You theory saves 2 dogs for every adoption. Each dog cannot be "saved" twice.
It's a boolean state applied to each animal individually: Rescued or Stray.
Said otherwise, A dog cannot be rescued by both the shelter and owner.
Only one can take credit for the save. Attributing 2 saves per adoption is illogical.

Example: you have a shelter with a 10 dog capacity. Over the years, you have rescued 5000 stray dogs and sucessfully found a home for each one. By your convention (2 saves per each adoption) you would have "saved" 10000 dogs. This is false, at most, you have saved 5010 dogs.

[druidity33]

54. your theory is flawed, really flawed.

What makes you think you can't save each critter twice?

Most shelters will put an animal down if they are not adopted. How is it that the shelter saved them (other than temporarily) if their intent is to get them off the streets, by euthanization if need be? Who's to say the dog wasn't enjoying the outdoors just fine?


What are you a vulcan?

:eyes:

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

57. It's really simple math.

In your viewpoint, a dog is not rescued by a shelter but by the adoption. This is because even though it has been brought in to the shelter, it is not safe because it will be euthanized if it can find no home. Therefore, when a dog is adopted that dog is saved and another replaces it in the shelter - however the the new dog still not "saved" until adoption. 1 adoption and 1 save.

In shelters that do not euthanize, one could say the "save" occurs when the dog is brought into the shelter. This is because the dog is now safe from the dangers of being stray and will not be euthanized. Therefore, when you adopt a dog you are effectively saving a stray dog to fill your dog's shelter position. Ergo, the dog you've adopted was already "saved" by a previous patron of the shelter when space allowed for your dog to enter the shelter. 1 adoption and 1 save.

Unless a dog is re-released as a stray or in a state of endangerment (unfit owners)... it cannot be "saved" more than once.

Simple math:
b ≡ shelter capacity; x ≡ adopted dogs; y ≡ maximum saved dogs; m ≡ boolean operator: 1 ≡ saved, 0 ≡ stray
y = mx + b, m=1 ∴ ∀ x > b, y ≠ 2x

Live Long and Prosper,
0.1%

[Atticus]

68. Dude----Occam's Razor?------Let it rest! nt

[11 Bravo]

88. Are you fucking kidding me? Tell me, aside from shitting on birthday cakes ...

and pissing on threads, do you have any non-excretory hobbies?

[adigal]

90. You save the one you adopt...that has to be enough

Or I would go crazy. I just about lose my mind over the ones I can't save. They haunt me forever, that they are crammed into gas chambers, or worse - stuck in the heart with a long needle. Some rural shelters such as Robeson County, NC, got caught not even using anesthesia before heartsticking. Google them, and you can watch the experience of a dog being heartstuck, and a group dying in a gas chamber. Enjoy.

[Blecht]

109. LOL

Great posts -- funny how math scares people.

Either that or they're carrying animosity from other threads, or both.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

67. Why turn such a nice thread into a math exercise? nt

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

7. I've got a houseful of rescues. Only way to go, never go to a breeder.

More than 200 foster dogs over the last couple of years. Thanks for posting.

[texastoast]

8. Yeppers indeed n/t

[flvegan]

10. It's almost a crime that I can only Rec this once.

Thank you for posting.

[SallyMander]

13. This thread needs a picture!

My rescue doggies... Elmo (R) and Simon (L). Simon was on death row when we got him -- had a euthanasia date and everything! :( They are the best!

[madmax]

15. Oh man,

Kisses, kisses, kisses. Adorable!!

[SallyMander]

26. Thanks madmax! You have to beware Simon smooches

He has a penchant for leaving a big lick-smear on my glasses... :rofl:

[Vinca]

17. Wow - what serious cuties!

[SallyMander]

27. Aww, thanks Vinca!

I don't know what it is about dogs with beards... i am in love with them! :D

[texastoast]

35. Two boys just like this were in a kill shelter when we rescued them

They are just the most wonderful dogs. And the rescue group needs so much help. So many people get these dogs not knowing what they are getting into and don't want to keep them.

[SallyMander]

37. OMG gorgeous!!!

Is that a Great Pyranees? I have my giant dogs mixed up. I have a friend with a Newfoundland -- she's black, but otherwise looks similar!

[texastoast]

44. Yes

He's a Pyr. The Newfoundlands look similar and are just as glorious with their black coats. And you know, Pyrs really do make great house dogs if you don't mind white hair. They don't move around much and don't eat much for their size. They love being in the house or laying around outside guarding stock. Just great, noble and protective (but not aggressive) dogs. This is our second pair to own. Our two had escaped from a puppy mill (this breed is known for escaping through an eight-inch hole in a fence) and were running loose in the streets before they were taken to the kill shelter. So glad we found them. I just hate puppy mills.

[SallyMander]

56. Awww well he is a stunner

I am so glad you were able to rescue them! My husband and i would love to have a big dog someday when we have a bit more space -- right now our house is <900 sq ft, and already two people and two dogs, it is a little crowded! :D

I am totally with you on the puppy mills... we have fostered many dogs, including a number who were puppy mill rescues. Some of them were so scared and timid, it would just break your heart. :cry: We had one little cairn terrier who was just petrified of everything and wouldn't even eat or drink the first few days we had her -- we just had to put little ice chips into her crate because she wouldn't come out. I am happy to report that my in-laws ended up adopting her and she is doing awesome!!! Still a little skittish about loud noises, but a MILLION times better than she was! She is such a happy friendly little girl now, and she still always remembers us and gets so excited when we visit. :)

[Demoiselle]

126. We've got two Pyr rescues.

I second everything you say about them. They've been described as "animated snowdrifts" and all I can say is that they're not THAT animated! Sweet, noble, and I swear our cuddlybears know they've been rescued, They are super loving and grateful. They are also super patient with our half-dozen cats.

[Doctor_J]

91. Those are great. Cairns?

Here is where I am trying to adopt:

http://www.cairnrescueusa.com/adopt/adoptable.php

[SallyMander]

104. My two are actually bigger than cairns

You can't really tell in the pic, but they are each about 50 lbs. We think Elmo is probably a wheaten mix, and Simon is definitely half-schnauzer (he came to the shelter with his mom, who was a standard schnauzer... and apparently dad was a dachshund?!). Cairns are great though -- we have actually fostered several dogs through that same organization! If they don't have one near you, also be sure to check out Petfinder -- cairns pop up on there too. Good luck with your adoption! :)

[Bette Noir]

119. So cute!

[DeschutesRiver]

125. Absolutely adorable:) nt

[zappaman]

16. Always

I am convinced the best dogs are rescue dogs. Both of the dogs I rescued would have been dead if I hadn't taken them. In return for saving their lives, they have given me years of happiness. If you are thinking of getting a dog, please use a rescue service like petfinder.com

[ebbie15644]

18. petfinders

is a great place to start!!

[glinda]

47. Petfinder, Shelters and DOG POUNDS!

[Brother Buzz]

20. Rescue dogs are the greatest. Mine was a twice rescued Border collie/heeler mix

She came with special needs that took a lot of work and patience at the beginning. It was worth it. She is cured of her phobias; shovels, cast iron frying pans and ice cube trays.

She taught us the physics of throwing balls; retrieving them is her lifes work.

Here she is wearing her über-fashionable Continental chapeau.

[fadedrose]

21. We got our beagle that way...

I say "we" but it's really my son's dog. I watch Ginger when he goes to work...

Best thing we ever did. There's not enough Ginger to go around - when he takes her home, we miss her..

I wish I were younger to get one of the gorgeous golden labs or retrievers they had at the shelter - but they pull too hard for an old biddy like me...everytime I see a big dog I have to stoop to hug it whether I know the owner or not.

We got ours from the shelter run by the City cops. You don't need a fenced-in yard to get a dog there like you do from the humane society.

[dgibby]

32. Here are some web sites you might find interesting.

http://search.aol.com/aol/search?query=no+pull+dog+harness&s_it=keyword_rollover

I haven't used these harnesses, but it looks like something you could use if you want to adopt a big dog.

[Bette Noir]

121. My husband and I got a medium-sized mixed breed

who is all black and fluffy. We call her our "teacup Newfie."

[left coaster]

23. Yes, yes, on thousand times YES!

The best karmic forces will be yours to command if you take in a rescue, or shelter dog OR a shelter cat.. or better yet, one of each.. :)

[Mimosa]

29. Rescue kitties, too!

Bravo, I second and 32nd your emotion. There's no animal more loving than a rescued dog or cat. They are more loving. They also want to stay inside more.

[Arugula Latte]

122. Yes -- rescue kitties make WONDERFUL pets.

Kitties are just the best -- soft, funny, affectionate, relatively easy to take care of, the perfect size, warm your lap, warm your heart. :loveya:

[pink-o]

133. I got my Bombay mix from a shelter

I just love her so much!

[hobbit709]

30. In the last 20 years we've had12 dogs

The most at one time was 8, I'm now down to 4. All except one were rescues.

[AndyA]

31. Don't forget about cats, too. They make great pets as well.

I have three of them. One came from the animal shelter, another was rescued as a kitten from an abusive home, and the third was a stray left to roam the neighborhood on its own. One of its brothers or sisters had already been killed, left laying dead along the curb.

All three are wonderful friends and companions. They know they were rescued, and they love you even more for it!

Congrats on the new pooch! I'm sure she'll love her new home. :)

[Jennicut]

33. But be careful. I had one for a few months and he charged my 4 year old.

He was abused. Some need immense amount of help. I gave Jake to a trainer and then he was adopted again. Bit his owner. I feel really bad for Jake but he just cannot seem to be a regular family pet.

[KittyWampus]

34. Just as important- SPAY/NEUTER YOUR PETS! And convince anyone you can to do the same.

[11 Bravo]

36. That is mandatory with rescue dogs (at least in this area), but I fully agree.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

77. We had our puppy's nuts chopped off - vet said it would avoid future humping.

Well, to this day the dog spends about 1 hr of each day humping a stuffed animal.
Poor little fella lost his nuts and all for nothing. 6th generation AKC dog (w/ papers) too.

Next dog we get... keeps his junk.

[TwilightGardener]

80. Oh, my little dog still humps occasionally too--one year after his neutering.

But it's still worth it--intact dogs are more aggressive, more likely to run off, and you don't want to be responsible for unwanted puppies. Edit to add--I don't think your dog is acting on sexual urges, he's acting on instincts to dominate.

[LanternWaste]

95. You had your dog undergo the procedure...

"and all for nothing..."

You had your dog undergo the procedure to "avoid future humping" rather than preventing additional unwanted litters?

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

99. Yup.

Our dog does not get out. Property is fenced in. It is leashed when not in our yard.
Interaction with other other dogs is both supervised and supervised.
The only female dogs it's ever around are to big for it to even mount - plus they are spayed.

We had it neutered to decrease agression and humping. That was pretty much it.
Pretty much failed on the humping everything aspect and it plays very rough for a dog it's size.

[LanternWaste]

100. Try a responsible training method.

"Pretty much failed on the humping everything aspect and it plays very rough for a dog it's size."

Try a responsible and reviewed training method. There are many, many sources that deal with handling over-aggressive or easily excitable animals-- traits which are mainly due to their immediate environments.

[amborin]

38. we recently adopted our 4th..from the pound....alas,

385,000 dogs await adoption in greater Los Angeles....

on petfinders...

[pecwae]

39. Reccing.

On my 4th rescue. They appreciate a loving home and you can tell it in their eyes.

[Robeysays]

40. just adopted one today!

:D

[jules1962]

41. Congratulations Robey!

We got our two Golden Retrievers from the Tn. Valley Golden Retriever Rescue (TVGRR) 4 years ago. I have never purchased a dog and will never do so. All of my babies either were strays or came from a shelter. Please have your pets spayed/neutered and microchipped. Nothing is better than a fur baby!

[femrap]

43. Are there any other

kind of pets?

I don't particularly like people who raise pets to sell.

[donheld]

45. Maybe you'd like a Gorilla?

[femrap]

98. He's better looking than

my last hubby...but can he prepare a souffle?

[Lucky Luciano]

46. We picked up a wonderful supersweet and mushy put bull from our animal control center.

I am so crazy about that dog! I love her so much - and she would gave died the next day were it not for my girlfriend and I! Adopt only! Fuck the puppy mills!

[Wilms]

48. Bravo, 11 Bravo!

[BrklynLiberal]

49. This is a wonderful post. Thanks so much for fighting for those who cannot fight for themselves.

Voice Of The Voiceless
by Ella Wheeler Wilcox

So many gods, so many creeds,
So many paths that wind and wind,
While just the art of being kind
Is all the sad world needs.

I am the voice of the voiceless:
Through me, the dumb shall speak;
Till the deaf world's ear be made to hear
The cry of the wordless weak.

From street, from cage and from kennel,
From jungle and stall, the wail
Of my tortured kin proclaims the sin
Of the mighty against the frail

For love is the true religion,
And love is the law sublime,
And all is wrought, where love is not
Will die at the touch of time.

Oh shame on the mothers of mortals
Who have not stopped to teach
Of the sorrow that lies in dear, dumb eyes,
The sorrow that has no speech.

The same Power formed the sparrow
That fashioned man - the King;
The God of the whole gave a living soul
To furred and to feathered thing.

And I am my brother's keeper,
And I will fight his fight,
And speak the word for beast and bird
Till the world shall set things right.

[faithnotgreed]

50. for those who can and want the commitment - please adopt

absolutely agree

[tavalon]

51. We did that 3 years ago

and he is, hands down, the best dog companion I have ever had. He had an unusual history: He was an hearing assistance dog and his owner fell and had to go live with her daughter and had to give him up. It didn't take us long to get him to respond to verbal signals but, to this day, he gets giddy with joy if we use ASL commands. He does what he's been asked to do but his stump of a tail just wags ferociously while he is doing the task.

He's a standard poodle and he is just magnificent. The only downside is that he was seven when we got him so he won't be with us nearly long enough.

His name is Olympic Baron but to us, he is just Ollie or Ollie-bear.

[HillWilliam]

53. +A million! Rescues are so grateful

and make such wonderful companions. Thank you so much for keeping this topic alive. In tough economic times, it's our four-legged friends who suffer first.

Let me re-share a link to a story about one of my rescues I posted earlier this week:

Meet Callie who was scooped up off the streets, near-starved. She had some behavior problems because she had been abused before she got away from whoever was mistreating her, but love and patience allowed her to bloom into a loving, beautiful lady.

What I would have missed... what the world would have missed. One person's throwawy became my treasure.

Edit: I forgot to add "Rec'd"!

[DisgustedInMN]

55. Rescue dogs are the BEST!

We adopted a beautiful, loving, German Shepard for Wisc. GS Rescue. She has so taken over my heart, that I wouldn't know what to do without her. She is just the latest in a long line of rescue dogs for us. In fact, we've never gone looking for a puppy, as our experiences with the rescues has been so wonderful.

On a sad note, a few years back, we "foster cared" for a 3 year old female St Bernard, named Maggie. The foster care lasted for almost 2 years and she became a family member. If you've never had a St Bernard in your life, it's hard to describe how much love they give and bring out in you. The sad comes in when she got Lymes disease, probably from a tick. It took her from us and still to this day, I can't think about her without my eyes welling with tears. Nakita (our rescue GS) has the same temperament Maggie did.

With all of the crap in life these days, I need the uplift I get from Nakita, and she doesn't ask for much beyond some chow and love her back. What a bargain!

[HillWilliam]

58. Bravo!

All my furkids have been rescues. I think they realize they've been in jeopardy and they're so grateful. If you ever want to know what unconditional love looks like, just see how they regard us. No guile, no guilt-trips, no manipulations (well, maybe for the occasional back-scratch or cookie). They just love us because for us.

If only humanity would love one another that way. Think of the wonders we could accomplish instead of tearing each other apart in wars and stupid bigotries. This world could be heaven right here, right now. We're just not wise enough or good enough to ourselves to have it.

[DisgustedInMN]

60. There's so much we..

.. could learn from these wonderful social experts, isn't there? I feel privileged that I can be a member of their pack. The unconditional love and loyalty is a trait that we humans can only aspire to. I can only hope to have as beautiful of a soul as my rescue dogs have had.

I should have thanked the OP for this thread in my first reply, but neglected to do so. My thanks, your story really brightened my morning.

[HillWilliam]

63. Take a look at my "middle child"

There's a picture of her on Monday's thread here. If you saw her when she came home and saw her now, you'd never-ever know she's the same dog. Because she had been abused, she had a bit of a nasty attitude. Now, she's little Miss Barbie Doll who loves being brushed and petted and cooed at and fussed over. Very unlike big white dogs, she now craves attention and does well with guests.

She's such a good "sister" to Ashley-Marie. They're like salt and pepper. When I get home from work, OH! the greetings I get. They're all stropping my legs and carrying on like I'd been gone for years.

That and the greatest partner in the world (14 years last Friday!) makes me fly home every evening. I'm the luckiest man in the world.

[bullwinkle428]

59. Dog or cat, there are GREAT benefits to adopting an adult pet -

their personality is already established, so the chances of a "perfect fit" are increased greatly!

[TwilightGardener]

64. If one isn't particular about breed, that is the way to go.

But cats are REALLY in need of adoption--I volunteered in a shelter, and the dogs moved fast. The same poor cats, however, were there month after month (I took home two of them).

[lukasahero]

65. Breed-specific rescue groups abound

I agree that cats need adoption as well but really felt it necessary to point out that even if one *is* particular about a breed, rescue and adoption are still many, many options.

Thanks you for rescuing your kitties.

[TwilightGardener]

66. I tried breed rescue in my area, they wouldn't adopt out to me because

I didn't have a fenced yard, believe it or not. A nice big house and yard but no fence--so, no deal. Ridiculous. I guess if one can meet their requirements, it's a good deal. I ended up going to a good breeder.

[lukasahero]

72. My point was just to clarify that there are breed specific rescue groups

since your post made it seem adoption wasn't an option if someone wanted a specific breed.

Not interested in arguing with you about the rules each group sets up.

[TwilightGardener]

84. Understood--Just saying it's not a solution for every situation, but still worth trying first.

[Doctor_J]

93. Same here

I volunteered to drive 30 miles to pick one up. no fence - no dice.

[REACTIVATED IN CT]

96. Not all breed rescue groups have that requirement.

It depends on the breed . My group rescues toy dogs and we do not require a fenced yard.

[DisgustedInMN]

78. Absolutely!

Maggie, rest her big lovable soul, came from Minn. St Bernard Rescue. Nakita, laying right beside me now, came from Wisc. German Shepard Rescue. Breed specific rescue seems to be the norm, at least in these parts.

[Hawkeye-X]

69. Always wanted a Scottie.

But I'll take any loveable mutt that adores my son :)

[lukasahero]

75. Scottie rescue groups:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&source=hp&q=scottie+dog+rescue+groups&aq=f&aqi=&oq=

:hi:

[DemoTex]

70. Nick: rescued in Dallas on Bastille Day (7/14) 2003.

His full name is Canicula de la Bastille, hence "Nick" (or "Nick-Nick"). Canicula is the Latin name for the Dog Star (Sirius is the Greek). Nick is a star dog!

[NNN0LHI]

73. Nick sure is a handsome fella

Thanks for the photos.

Don

[11 Bravo]

87. I remember the OP when you introduced us to Nick (along with some stunning pics).

He's a beauty, and I'll bet he provides welcome companionship. By the way, how are things atop the tower?

[NNN0LHI]

71. From someone who previously has only owned only dogs that were not mutts

I found a good old girl(German Shepherd/Border Collie mix) along side the road a little over a year ago where someone had dumped her.

She is the best dog I have ever had. Shame on the person who is stupid enough to act in a threatening way towards me or my family. She would eat them up. She is very loyal and ultra-protective. And she is a big girl. Over 80 pounds now. She was 50 when I found her. A burglar alarm system would be a waste of money here. She patrols all night long.

Mutts? Get yourself one. You will never regret it.

Don

[Arkansas Granny]

106. Some of the best dogs I've ever known have been mutts and mixed is my favorite "breed".

I think temperament and personality are more important than breed.

[Roon]

74. If I ever adopt again, I am going to get an adult kitty

The older the better.

[zonkers]

79. The traveling scoundrel. my favorite breed. Nice post.

[joeybee12]

82. Absolutely! KNR!

[WilmywoodNCparalegal]

83. My rescue kitty is FIV+ and he's the best buddy

to my dog and us that we can possibly ask for. He is doing great healthwise and we keep him happy. He loves to taunt the dog and follows my SO and the dog when they go out running - he runs alongside them. He is super magnific.

[groundloop]

85. May I also recommend retired greyhounds as great dogs to "rescue"

We've had our greyhound for 5 years now, they're fantastic pets. If it weren't for the tremendous effort by many greyhound adoption organizations there would still be thousands of these great dogs put down needlesly. And if anyone is hesitant about them being a big dog, they're actually nothing but couch potatoes that only want to be let out in the yard or walked a couple of times a day.

[REACTIVATED IN CT]

97. Agreed ! My sister has adopted several of these dogs

over the years. They are sweet and gentle creatures

[guitar man]

86. Both of mine are rescue pooches

One from the animal shelter and the other from a bad owner.

[adigal]

89. I run a dog rescue - and I have pulled hundreds of dogs

in the last two years. I pull pure labs and retrievers and mutts from kill shelters in the south, puppies and older dogs, all of whom would have been gassed or heartstruck the next day.

Here is my link, if you are looking for a pooch in the NY area:

http://www.adoptapet.com/animal-shelter-search?city_or_zip=12853&distance=50&adopts_out=all&imageField.x=19&imageField.y=9

I have stories that could curl your hair! Please adopt, don't buy. I also just got dogs from a puppy mill - one Yorkie had a HUGE tumor under her nipple, about an inch long, another one has an enlarged heart, another has no teeth. Please...don't buy puppies from puppy stores!

My email: [e-mail]

[MiniMe]

92. I have a foster dog here now waiting for a forever home

She just got here about an hour or so ago, but so far she is doing well. She loves my dog, but she was just spayed on Monday so she can't play yet. Rescued dogs know they have been rescued, and they appreciate you for it.



Phoebe

[adigal]

94. If I may just add - I have some people who swear they will

give the rescue dog time to adjust, they must agree to obedience classes to get a dog from me, and I get calls 4 hours after they bring the dog home that the dog peed on the floor or the dog is fighting with their dog. They don't give the poor dog any time at all to adjust.

I have a 6 page application, vet references and sometime home visits, and still...people lie to me all of the time.

BE SURE YOU ARE WILLING TO WORK THROUGH ISSUES!! Many of these incredibly wonderful dogs were never loved enough by someone that they were taught how to be a good dog. It is your responsiblity to housebreak, monitor the "pack" until you feel safe with them alone, and work on any other issues as long as no one is endangered. If you are not willing to do that, please go buy some fish instead. It is very hurtful for a dog to be returned to a rescue from his/her new home.

Thanks,

[Arkansas Granny]

108. Unfortunately, some people acquire pets as though they are shopping for accessories

or decorative items. They never consider the personality of the animal or the fact that they will be responsible for the animals needs. Some people are just clueless.

[ChickMagic]

101. Great post! K/R

Every single one of my pets my entire 56 years has been a foundling or rescue.

[Initech]

102. Got a rescue dog, have had a great experience so far.

[Richard Steele]

103. K&R

[hamsterjill]

105. Great post!

Never buy while shelter pets die!

[EFerrari]

107. Especially in these times. I hope people hear this.

I've been trapping poor kitties that people have started dumping up here in the hills and it's just a matter of time before te dogs start showing up.

Thanks, 11 Bravo. :yourock:

[CrispyQ]

110. My sweet pup was in the Cheyenne pound at least two different times,

before they transferred him to Boulder. He was there for three months before I discovered him. I have loved every dog I've ever had, but this one has stolen my heart like no other!!

K&R

[pasto76]

111. My 2 shelter dogs guard my house and family like tireless robots

....in between play times.

Some of the best dogs on the planet. 50 bucks for one, 100 for the other. Obiedient, smart, loyal, great with the kids. I suggest to folks whenever they speak about getting a dog that the shelters will have exactly what they are looking for.

[Myrina]

112. Yes Yes Yes! I am a Beagle foster mom and they are the BEST!

Petfinder.com will let you search for shelter/rescue dogs in any area, by just about any criteria.

[JNelson6563]

114. We always got rescue dogs

Whether from the Humane Society or AC PAWS or whatever. Best dog I ever had was from the HS, Bailey was his name. He was 5 when we got him, half german shepherd half retriever. We had him for 10 years! When we first took him to the cottage his first summer with us we didn't know what to expect. We opened mini-van door and he bolted out, straight for the water. He was out there all day long with kids and us, sooooooo happy. If we took a boat out (fishing or paddle) he would follow us. We had to start taking him with us because he would swim so far out in order to follow us he got exhausted.

We were so heart-broken when his time came. He was there for a huge chunk of the kids' childhoods. Hard to imagine I'll ever have a dog as great as ol' Bailey-wailey was.

Julie

[Bette Noir]

115. I would no sooner buy a dog than a boyfriend or a child.

All my dogs have been rescues.

[MissDeeds]

116. Great post

My husband and I have supported our local shelter for years. We were always so pleased that it was a "no kill shelter", but unfortunately, that has recently changed. As more and more pet parents find that they cannot financially afford the food and health care for their pets, the shelter has been overwhelmed. Donations have dwindled in these tough economic times, and there simply isn't room or money to care for them all. Now, each shelter pet comes with an expiration date. It's heartbreaking.

Thanks for posting this, 11 Bravo. Maybe you've helped save the lives of a few critters.

K&R

[tango-tee]

120. Bravo, MOS 11B!

I adopted my first dog from a couple who was going to have her "put down" for being mean. I had no experience with dogs at all, but on getting to know her couldn't see a mean streak in her at all. Even during this short, first meeting Babe was affectionate. So I took her home. She was a Great Dane. A wonderful, sweet, smart animal. But heaven help me, in all her years Babe never realized she wasn't exactly a lap dog. The sofa belonged to her, and although I was allowed to sit on it there she was, draped across my legs.

At about the same time I adopted Babe, I found a Doberman crouched under my porch. I was a bit worried at first (not having any experience with dogs), but noticed that the poor animal was so very skinny. So I pushed a bowl of food and another bowl of water under the porch with the help of a broom. This went on for about two weeks. Then she decided to come out from underneath the porch, but would not allow me to touch her. A bit more time elapsed, she gained weight, her coat became shiny. Eventually, I was allowed to pet her.

Brownie was a peaceful dog. She wouldn't bark at the mailman or chase the meter reader, she never attempted to bite anyone. All she wanted was to be left in peace. One day, my mother-in-law (and I must admit that both of us detested each other from the bottom of our hearts), drove up. Brownie was next to me, I could feel tension rising in her, and for the very first time, she growled. Like lightning, she ran up to the car, put her paws up on the driver's window and bared her teeth. She did not allow my MIL to leave the car. MIL left, dog was fine.

[Dr.Phool]

124. I had to have my female, Golden-Newfie mix put down 2 years ago.

She was 13, and could barely get up on her own anymore. Then in October, my male 13 year old Lab-Golden mix had to go.

I was searching the shelters, and Craigs List for a new one. We wanted a rescue puppy. I saw an ad on Craigs list, That said Florida All Retriever Rescue was looking for people to foster or adopt some Lab mix pups. My wife and I went over, and decided to take the 2 females home. One was a 9 week old Lab-Springer, and the other was a Lab-Airdale. At first, we thought we'd keep the Airdale mix, but the Springer was just so perfect, and she worked her way into our hearts immediately. So we kept her, and fostered the other one, until a nice young couple adopted her.

Sara, Queen of the Loveseat is now 6 months old. She's the sweetest, most affectionate dog you could imagine. Very smart, and becoming protective of her home.

We made the right choice. This pic is about 2 months old.



This from November at the dog park



About a month ago at the park.





The two pups



And why dogs bite people.

[njlib]

127. 2 dogs, 5 cats here

All of them weren't wanted....the cats were all strays, Cinnamon's from the shelter where they said her previous owner most likely abused her, and Buster, a mushy pit who was probably the runt of the litter, was abandoned in a vacant apartment when he was just 8 weeks old. Three of the cats were strays from around my house who just showed up one day. They used to be sitting on the front steps when I'd get home from work, waiting for their supper! The other two are strays from where I used to work. I was always a dog person until Kitty & Bunny adopted me!!

May I also add that if anyone's in a position where they're able to swing it financially, some food banks & church pantries also accept pet food. The small church in my town runs a pantry that serves over 70 families each week. Since the county foodbank is the only one around that accepts pet food donations, I asked the church if they would accept pet food also. They seemed a little taken aback, but took it. When I dropped more stuff off the following week, the woman was glad I had more pet food. She said people were so suprised and happy to see it when they went for food for themselves. The employees of our local unemployment office have also started their own small pantry that they set up in the employee lounge/kitchen area of the office. They take pet food, too.

I can't imagine what it must be like to have to give up your babies because you lose your home or can't afford to feed them.

[backwoodsbob]

131. EVERY dog on my hill is a rescue or in one case a son of one

i've chanted PAWS to people here since the day I joined..and thank you for the rescue.

ANY animal should be a rescue until we get it through peoples heads to spay and neuter

[proud patriot]

134. My house is full of lovable rescues

here's Buddy my spca pound puppy with Tom Cat one of my rescue Gypsy's kittens

[faithnotgreed]

135. kicking for love