"Thought For the Day"

[AluraMist]

Oh this is so cute.

Dogs ARE awesome!

[Pegasus Unbound]

Oh this is so cute.

Dogs ARE awesome!

If ONLY there were more people like this character.

I would be so lost without my little trouble maker!

Hugs,

V

[Chris Spiritcaster]

Oh this is so cute.

Dogs ARE awesome!

We currently have 4 dogs that were all rescues.

[AluraMist]

We currently have 4 dogs that were all rescues.

Same here. We currently have only two dogs now. All of our dogs over the years have been rescue dogs, with only one exception. My granddaughter went to check out a new Pet Shop that opened nearby, and she fell in love with a Cavapoo. So of course, Grandmom bought it for her. We had him, Mufasa, for 13+ years. He just passed away last year. Got sick suddenly and was gone shortly afterwards. But we will always go for a rescue pet, if we do go looking for another new one.

[Pegasus Unbound]

Same here. We currently have only two dogs now. All of our dogs over the years have been rescue dogs, with only one exception. My granddaughter went to check out a new Pet Shop that opened nearby, and she fell in love with a Cavapoo. So of course, Grandmom bought it for her. We had him, Mufasa, for 13+ years. He just passed away last year. Got sick suddenly and was gone shortly afterwards. But we will always go for a rescue pet, if we do go looking for another new one.

There really is no way to fully measure or appreciate the love of a rescue pet. They have so much to give to their new forever family and seem to have the ability to quickly put the past behind them and live in the now with the love they give/get.

All my pets have been rescues, I would not have it any other way. For those people who are determined to have a specific breed (Pure or otherwise) there are many, MANY rescue groups dedicated to specific animal types/breeds so there is no reason to go to a fancy breeder or puppy mill when there is already a life just waiting for their forever home.
@AluraMist, I still remember when you shared the details that you had to take Mufasa to the vet, and the events that followed...you shared his pics with his siblings and your loss and love with us. My own little brat, Cutie, is now middle aged for a Dachshund mix (8 years) and she gets/gives all the love, attention and care possible. We got her when she was 7 months old and had already been through 3 homes with some emotional abuse at the last one; it took her a year to get over the sight of a broom...but now brooms are a fun toy to play with.

Folks, if you have room in your heart and home, start going to the local shelters and see who is ready for adoption. I will share a very important tip: You do NOT choose the pet, IT chooses YOU. You might see something cute but take the time to see if it feels the same way about you before the final decision. I also strongly suggest you consider an older animal with special needs BEFORE a "Cute and Cuddly" baby. Cutie was only 7 months old, but she has been traumatized and needed the extra love and attention to over come that abuse...and she became so much more than a pet (She even knows when I need to take my meds and will remind me if I don't).

Hugs

V

[AluraMist]

... Folks, if you have room in your heart and home, start going to the local shelters and see who is ready for adoption. I will share a very important tip: You do NOT choose the pet, IT chooses YOU. You might see something cute but take the time to see if it feels the same way about you before the final decision. ...
Hugs
V

It's funny you mentioned "choosing a pet ...". We have been talking about getting another pet, but we aren't quite ready yet. But we all agreed that we are going to ask, "which dog / dogs have been there the longest". They are probably older dogs, and some with special needs as you mentioned. But they are the ones that are usually the hardest to place. So that's where we will start.

We are still working with Chance (our rescued Boxer Mix). He will turn 14 this year. The Vet said that the normal life span for him is about eight years, so he is living on borrowed time right now. But we are loving him, and still enjoying his antics, even at his age. Priceless...

[AluraMist]

South Jersey has turned "green" this weekend.
Even Lucy, in Margate, is an Eagles fan (thanks to Photoshop).

[Jonathan Greenflame]

We currently have 4 dogs that were all rescues.

I've had many dogs over the years, but none were from a rescue shelter. I live out in the country and people would just drop animals off to let them either starve or fend for themselves. Well since mine was the first house they would come to, I couldn't help but give them a meal and a place to sleep over. Almost all were happy to take up residence.

[Pegasus Unbound]

It's funny you mentioned "choosing a pet ...". We have been talking about getting another pet, but we aren't quite ready yet. But we all agreed that we are going to ask, "which dog / dogs have been there the longest". They are probably older dogs, and some with special needs as you mentioned. But they are the ones that are usually the hardest to place. So that's where we will start.

We are still working with Chance (our rescued Boxer Mix). He will turn 14 this year. The Vet said that the normal life span for him is about eight years, so he is living on borrowed time right now. But we are loving him, and still enjoying his antics, even at his age. Priceless...

I'm so glad you have reached a place where you can start looking; I will let you in on a secret I learned after the loss of my first pet when I was 16 (I had that cat since I was 1 month old). You will never feel ready, but you can still look and one day that little someone special will catch your breath and heart...then and only then will you be ready.

It is funny what you say about Chance. I have know many parents of Boxer or Boxer mix children and despite what "the statistics" say, this breed of dog just does not know when to give up or even grow up. I believe that given the proper love, care and patience some pets will seem almost immortal.

I think Chance is really blessed to have found you all to be his family.

Hugs,

V

- - - Updated - - -

I've had many dogs over the years, but none were from a rescue shelter. I live out in the country and people would just drop animals off to let them either starve or fend for themselves. Well since mine was the first house they would come to, I couldn't help but give them a meal and a place to sleep over. Almost all were happy to take up residence.

In my personal opinion, that just makes you all the more special because each and everyone one of them is the kind of rescue that would never even have the advantage of a shelter.

Bravo HUGS!

V

[Arwen Mythweaver]

Oh this is so cute.

Dogs ARE awesome!

We’ve rescued three racing greyhounds over the past fifteen years.
We have one left and he’s twelve.

They’re wonderful, gentle pets. There’s a misconception that they’re very hyper, but it’s not true.
If you take them for walks each day, they’ll gladly come home and sleep on the sofa

In our case, we fenced in the back yard. They’ve actually worn the ground down where they’ve made their “racetracks”.
It’s a wonderful thing to see them racing around the yard without a care. That’s the way life should be for a retired greyhound.