Thursday, October 22, 2009

Adopt a Shelter Pet

Its a well known fact that October is breast cancer awareness month, as well as many other things. But, its also National Adopt a Shelter Pet month. There are many, many, many shelters in this country with many, many, many unwanted pets. Most times, these pets find themselves in shelters through no fault of their own - people get a cute puppy, then realize its too much work, or they are allergic or they move to a place that doesn't allow pets and so forth and so on... Sometimes the pets are taken away from abusive homes.

My husband and I decided to get a pet a few years after we got married. I immediately started looking on Pet Finder and found many adorable doggies. We later found out that our local PetSmart had adoption nights! So, we went one night saw the most gorgeous dogs we'd ever seen. Purrs N' Pups had rescued a pregnant dog from a kill shelter. In fact, this shelter had a "drop off pen", you know kinda like Blockbuster, you can just dump your unwanted dog in this pen during the night and in the morning the shelter workers would take them in.



By the time we had gotten there, only 4 pups were left from the litter. We oohed and ahhed and pet some of the pups and then I began filling out paper work. My husband continued to look at the pups and we had pretty much decided on a brown and white spotted male (think of a beagle's coloring) when out of nowhere, this sweet little black puppy woke up from her nap and pushed her way over to my hubby. She shoved her brother out of the way and started licking my hubby's hand. I picked her up and she instantly put her head down on my shoulder and snuggled in for another nap. It's true what they say - you don't pick the dog, the dog picks you!!



We've had our pup for 3 years now and she is the sweetest, most loving (and the most stubborn) dog we've ever met. She instantly loved my son when we brought him home from the hospital and they now are like sister and brother. A gorgeous dog that may not have lived had this rescue group not taken her pregnant mother from the kill shelter.

If you are looking for a pet - please, visit your local animal shelter and pet rescue group or look online. There are hundreds of pets that need a good loving home.

5 comments:

Unknown said...

Awww! We have adopted shelter girls as well. They are truly wonderful. I remember walking through and feeling so bad for some that had been there such a long time. Great post.

capitalcitycrafts said...

this is the best thing that anyone can do!

Five O'Clock Somewhere said...

We just adopted a sweet dog on Friday from a rescue. She is so loving and grateful to have been saved. Her time was up and she was going to be put to sleep. I loved your story.

Splendid Little Stars said...

a doggie dump!
better than tossing your pet out on the street.
I have 2 adopted kitties that came from a shelter. They are very sweet.

Multifarious By Design said...

It is so true! The puppy picks you. I've had this happen too. I went in one night to the Humane Society and decided to come back the next day when I couldn't get her off of my mind. Her name was Casey and she was 9. When I went in the next day, there was a scuffle to find her. Apparently we were just in time. She stayed with us for the next 6 years before she passed away and was one of the best dogs I've ever had the honor of knowing!