After planting my new Pinky Winky hydrangea, I decided to come in out of the heat on the first day of August and write about something that is totally removed from gardening. So please bare with me while I share my recent recycling project.
Late in May, I started looking locally to adopt a dog from one of our local shelters. Chance, my beloved dog passed away mid May of 2007. (See my May 2007 tribute). He was a wonderful dog, with a love and zest for life. And through the cancer, diabetes, pneumonia, daily medicines and shots, he never gave up his will to live. For one year, my husband, father and I mourned his passing. The emptiness was overwhelming. For the first time in our lives, we were without a dog. I felt that it was now time to honor his memory and give another animal the kind of life he experienced. I started searching for a full pedigree Rhodesian Ridgeback because Chance was mostly Rhody and a superb dog. But after much rethinking, I decided that many of these dogs always get homes, while so many other dogs are in need of homes. I found that a good majority of the dogs are listed on http://petfinder.com/. Many are full pedigree dogs and many are mixed breeds. Thus began my hours upon hours of early morning and late night searching for my new dog.
My experience was an eye opener to the tragedy that is going on in America today. Pets being discarded as if they were nothing more than a piece of worn out furniture that is tossed to the curb for the local waste management vehicle to come along and haul it to the dump. I wish I could have adopted a dozen, but in reality I can only have one and hopefully two. The stories are basically the same. No time, moving and can’t take it with us;...too big, ....too loud, not good with kids, in foreclosure, etc. Some give no reason for surrendering the dog. The really sad cases aside from those that are dumped or abused, are the older pets. How heartbreaking to see an 11 or 12 year old dog being sent to a shelter after living out most of its life with one family. Their only fault is the fact that they are old.
During my search I attempted to adopt several dogs, three were under adoption agreements, three suffered some serious issues with separation and socialization, and the last one was kept by the foster because she became attached to her after having her in her care for a few weeks. One shelter almost seemed like it did not care if her dogs were adopted or not. But most of the rescue organizations were very helpful and caring. I understand now why they scrutinize their perspective owners. They want these already fragile creatures to go to a home that will no longer put them through more turmoil and stress.
Although I applied for adoption at several different rescue groups throughout Ohio and PA, I kept coming back to a group in central Ohio called “Stop the Suffering”. I found that they always went out of their way to help a person find the right pet. Lynn Aronson, a rescue worker that find homes for these animals, told me about a dog she was getting from another shelter. I kept hearing wonderful things about a sweet black fur ball.
Late in May, I started looking locally to adopt a dog from one of our local shelters. Chance, my beloved dog passed away mid May of 2007. (See my May 2007 tribute). He was a wonderful dog, with a love and zest for life. And through the cancer, diabetes, pneumonia, daily medicines and shots, he never gave up his will to live. For one year, my husband, father and I mourned his passing. The emptiness was overwhelming. For the first time in our lives, we were without a dog. I felt that it was now time to honor his memory and give another animal the kind of life he experienced. I started searching for a full pedigree Rhodesian Ridgeback because Chance was mostly Rhody and a superb dog. But after much rethinking, I decided that many of these dogs always get homes, while so many other dogs are in need of homes. I found that a good majority of the dogs are listed on http://petfinder.com/. Many are full pedigree dogs and many are mixed breeds. Thus began my hours upon hours of early morning and late night searching for my new dog.
My experience was an eye opener to the tragedy that is going on in America today. Pets being discarded as if they were nothing more than a piece of worn out furniture that is tossed to the curb for the local waste management vehicle to come along and haul it to the dump. I wish I could have adopted a dozen, but in reality I can only have one and hopefully two. The stories are basically the same. No time, moving and can’t take it with us;...too big, ....too loud, not good with kids, in foreclosure, etc. Some give no reason for surrendering the dog. The really sad cases aside from those that are dumped or abused, are the older pets. How heartbreaking to see an 11 or 12 year old dog being sent to a shelter after living out most of its life with one family. Their only fault is the fact that they are old.
During my search I attempted to adopt several dogs, three were under adoption agreements, three suffered some serious issues with separation and socialization, and the last one was kept by the foster because she became attached to her after having her in her care for a few weeks. One shelter almost seemed like it did not care if her dogs were adopted or not. But most of the rescue organizations were very helpful and caring. I understand now why they scrutinize their perspective owners. They want these already fragile creatures to go to a home that will no longer put them through more turmoil and stress.
Although I applied for adoption at several different rescue groups throughout Ohio and PA, I kept coming back to a group in central Ohio called “Stop the Suffering”. I found that they always went out of their way to help a person find the right pet. Lynn Aronson, a rescue worker that find homes for these animals, told me about a dog she was getting from another shelter. I kept hearing wonderful things about a sweet black fur ball.
Java landed up in the Fulton County Pound. She was picked up as a stray. When Nancy Wolfe a rescuer from Northwest Ohio Siberian Rescue went in to save a husky; the warden told her that he had a dog that he thought had a wonderful temperament. (Just the word "warden" sends shivers up my spine. It conjures up visions of a person overseeing a cell block of cats and dogs waiting on death row for their unknowing execution.) The warden went on and on about how he picked up this dog and that she rode all day in the front seat of his truck while he went around and picked up strays. He showed the dog to Nancy and said that if she did not take her, he was going to put her down at 3 PM because he did not want to come back in over the weekend to feed her. So Nancy, going on her instincts, pulled Java from the hands of death one short hour before her execution and took her and a husky back to her home.
Java spent the next few weeks living in a sled dog house with Nancy’s own Huskies and other rescue dogs. It was apparent to Nancy that this dog must have been someone’s house pet because of the characteristics and behaviors she exhibited. Did the owner fail to look in the right place for her or did they truly not care what happened to her? From there, Java went to Stop the Suffering, where she was placed in the care of Shelly, another volunteer. Shelly owns a farm and also shelters many dogs and cats. In fact she houses most of the cats that are rescued by Stop the Suffering, as well as some of the older dogs that no one seems to want. Shelly has a soft spot for the seniors. Java went to live on Shelly’s farm for a little over the week and she continued to display a wonderful disposition.
On Monday, July 28, Deb McDonald, another volunteer at S.T.S., picked up Java for us and drove her an hour from Columbus to Cambridge, Ohio so that my husband and I could cut our drive time down to two hours both ways. Java slept the entire ride back to Pittsburgh and had immediately settled into life at our home. One would never know that she has only been with a few days because she has adapted very well. Surprisely, resiliency is one of the attributes of rescue dogs.
Although Java was a very appropriate name for our dog because of her coffee colored coat, we decided that it was a more of a masculine name for a girl. After much consideration and debating, I attempted to come up with what I felt would be a good name for her. Java is now called “Merit” because she is one worthy of being saved. Her name suits her well because this is a dog that should never have ended up in a county pound waiting for her execution. She was someone’s pet, a house dog that was taught numerous commands, housebroken, obedient and apparently loved.
Merit has brought so much love to our home in the short while she has been with us. We are getting to know her quirks and she is getting the feel for her new home. She loves to ride in a car…no wonder she was good for the warden. She enjoys giving kisses and loves to be scratched or her belly rubbed. She can sit, lay down, sit up, give paw, stay, guess which hand has a hidden treat by tapping it with her paw and snatch a dog treat off of her nose. She does not beg food, jump up or get on the furniture. She loves going for her walks and she wants to be where her people are going to be. She is a gift from heaven…the perfect dog. She loves everyone she meets and she is the sparkle in my 84 year old dad’s eye. I watch how she makes him light up when she is in his presence. I shutter to think that such a sweet creature almost had her life taken from her. She is now in her fifth location in over two months and through it all she is a trusting and loving creature. I am so blessed to have her be a part of our family. She is currently dealing with separation anxiety. This is a common issue with rescue dogs…particularly those that have been abandoned, surrendered or lost. But with time, I am sure that Merit will realize that she is safe, and that she is now in her forever home. And after only a few days, we can not imagine life without her.
So forgive me as Iveer far left from my gardening thoughts and encourage each one that reads this story, to think carefully before taking on a pet. It is not one that should be taken lightly and it one that should be made with the intent of a life long commitment. Having your pet spayed or neutered is the second most important step you take when adopting a new dog or cat. Every single day, thousands of dogs, puppies, cats and kittens are being put to sleep. If you don't believe me, read the true story about Sam. Make sure you have a tissue or two before you start. http://www.lyonsdenrescue.com/id38.html
May I encourage you to find it in your heart to consider adopting a dog from a shelter. They are so deserving of a second, third or even fourth chance. By doing so, you reduce the chance of wonderful cat or dog like Merit being put to death. By doing so you are giving an animal new purpose and recycling it for better life. My thanks to all those that aided in the rescue of Merit and all those that have dedicated their lives to rescue work. They spend endless hours volunteering their time, services and money to seeing that these animals find forever homes.
One of the volunteer rescuers that I worked with at S.T.S., signs off on all her emails with the following quote. I think it says it all.
“If you save one dog, you won’t change the world;
Java spent the next few weeks living in a sled dog house with Nancy’s own Huskies and other rescue dogs. It was apparent to Nancy that this dog must have been someone’s house pet because of the characteristics and behaviors she exhibited. Did the owner fail to look in the right place for her or did they truly not care what happened to her? From there, Java went to Stop the Suffering, where she was placed in the care of Shelly, another volunteer. Shelly owns a farm and also shelters many dogs and cats. In fact she houses most of the cats that are rescued by Stop the Suffering, as well as some of the older dogs that no one seems to want. Shelly has a soft spot for the seniors. Java went to live on Shelly’s farm for a little over the week and she continued to display a wonderful disposition.
On Monday, July 28, Deb McDonald, another volunteer at S.T.S., picked up Java for us and drove her an hour from Columbus to Cambridge, Ohio so that my husband and I could cut our drive time down to two hours both ways. Java slept the entire ride back to Pittsburgh and had immediately settled into life at our home. One would never know that she has only been with a few days because she has adapted very well. Surprisely, resiliency is one of the attributes of rescue dogs.
Although Java was a very appropriate name for our dog because of her coffee colored coat, we decided that it was a more of a masculine name for a girl. After much consideration and debating, I attempted to come up with what I felt would be a good name for her. Java is now called “Merit” because she is one worthy of being saved. Her name suits her well because this is a dog that should never have ended up in a county pound waiting for her execution. She was someone’s pet, a house dog that was taught numerous commands, housebroken, obedient and apparently loved.
Merit has brought so much love to our home in the short while she has been with us. We are getting to know her quirks and she is getting the feel for her new home. She loves to ride in a car…no wonder she was good for the warden. She enjoys giving kisses and loves to be scratched or her belly rubbed. She can sit, lay down, sit up, give paw, stay, guess which hand has a hidden treat by tapping it with her paw and snatch a dog treat off of her nose. She does not beg food, jump up or get on the furniture. She loves going for her walks and she wants to be where her people are going to be. She is a gift from heaven…the perfect dog. She loves everyone she meets and she is the sparkle in my 84 year old dad’s eye. I watch how she makes him light up when she is in his presence. I shutter to think that such a sweet creature almost had her life taken from her. She is now in her fifth location in over two months and through it all she is a trusting and loving creature. I am so blessed to have her be a part of our family. She is currently dealing with separation anxiety. This is a common issue with rescue dogs…particularly those that have been abandoned, surrendered or lost. But with time, I am sure that Merit will realize that she is safe, and that she is now in her forever home. And after only a few days, we can not imagine life without her.
So forgive me as Iveer far left from my gardening thoughts and encourage each one that reads this story, to think carefully before taking on a pet. It is not one that should be taken lightly and it one that should be made with the intent of a life long commitment. Having your pet spayed or neutered is the second most important step you take when adopting a new dog or cat. Every single day, thousands of dogs, puppies, cats and kittens are being put to sleep. If you don't believe me, read the true story about Sam. Make sure you have a tissue or two before you start. http://www.lyonsdenrescue.com/id38.html
May I encourage you to find it in your heart to consider adopting a dog from a shelter. They are so deserving of a second, third or even fourth chance. By doing so, you reduce the chance of wonderful cat or dog like Merit being put to death. By doing so you are giving an animal new purpose and recycling it for better life. My thanks to all those that aided in the rescue of Merit and all those that have dedicated their lives to rescue work. They spend endless hours volunteering their time, services and money to seeing that these animals find forever homes.
One of the volunteer rescuers that I worked with at S.T.S., signs off on all her emails with the following quote. I think it says it all.
“If you save one dog, you won’t change the world;
but you will change the world for that one dog.”
Reduce, reuse and recycle....a rescue animal. The rewards are unmeasurable!
Reduce, reuse and recycle....a rescue animal. The rewards are unmeasurable!
For more information about pets and the mentioned shelters, please visit these sites.
Petfinder http://petfinder.com/
Northwest Ohio Siberian Rescue http://members.petfinder.org/~OH94/
Stop the Suffering http://www.stopthesuffering.org/
Petfinder http://petfinder.com/
Northwest Ohio Siberian Rescue http://members.petfinder.org/~OH94/
Stop the Suffering http://www.stopthesuffering.org/
Animal Friends of Pittsburgh www.thinkingoutsidethecage.org/
3 comments:
Thanks for the kind words TC. This has been an extremely eye opening project. I have rescued several strays off the street,but I have never experienced the process of rescuing from a shelter. It was truly an experience that I will not forget.
Thanks so much for giving Java/Merit such a great home, and for sharing her story with others.
I am at that particular pound every week, and I know firsthand that Java owes her life to Nanc, and Lynne is another angel who is always there to do whatever she can for these dogs too. Adopting any rescue dog is a wonderful thing. Adopting a dog like Java even moreso. Bigger, older, mixed breed dogs get very few second chances. They are nearly always bumped down the list by the overwhelming number of small, young, or purebred dogs and puppies who are tossed aside like trash every day, too. It's happy endings like yours and Merit's that keep us all going for another day. thanks again,
Thanks for your great comments Molly. Merit is very fortunate for Nanc and all the others that made her adoption possible. Sadly, as you say, there are many Java's going to their death every single day. We deliberately looked for a dog that was older. We even looked at a 12 year old lab to adopt had we not been able to get Java. In my book, you are all angels..God bless all of you for your perseverance.
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