Summer of 2007 Fiance and I decided to get a dog. We made the decision around the time I was fired from Job #2 in the DC area, not exactly prime time, but once we met the dog named “Nancy” there was no turning back.
I had been perusing petfinder for a boxer mix – the breed that we researched and decided would be best for us as they seemed to be good city dogs and he wanted a “real dog” not a minipooch of whatever breed. Yip-yip dogs were strictly out of the picture.
Nancy was a rescue dog, a few of you know how this story ends and how it began but I’m going to tell it again thanks to inspiration. She had been found – as we know – at a kill shelter in West Virginia, put into Foster Care by a rescue organization in Arlington. It is highly likely she was at some point in her short life a stray, and then found by the kill shelter. As far as we know, she was not abused, maybe just abandoned.
She was high strung when we met her and had a high pitched whine that could break windows. She rarely barks, but has the howl of a beagle with a low moaned “rooo” attached to it.
But Nancy won her way into our hearts once she plopped down delicately under a bench in the shade from the hot June afternoon. We told the lady we would try her out. They told us they could bring her by tonight – they’d bring the paperwork and the food.
$115 was what our pup cost us. Of course far more than that if you could the destroyed couches, door frames, flooring, carpet, windows, shoes, and everything in between. They dropped her off and we were smitten. It was then that Ellie came into our lives and has dominated them ever since.
I have always been a dog lover. During my childhood my family had two dogs – one “Lady” a yellow lab mix, and “Lucy” and Beagle/Shepard mix. Lucy came after Lady – my parents were quick to bring both dogs back when the going got tough – Lady used to run away, and Lucy was brought back when neither parent wanted to keep her amidst the divorce. My father and step mother later allowed my younger step brother to adopt “Margaret” a 4 year old shepard mix who is now brinking on old age at 14 years old.
Ellie (formerly Nancy) is a blessing (or a curse depending on who you are and how you look at the destruction) but I would never give her away, or give up on her. She is loyal, protective, energetic and reminds us of the simpler things like having someone sitting patiently, tail wagging waiting for us to walk in the door.
Last week in Connecticut, Fiancé had a meeting so I spent the afternoon at the mall perusing the after Christmas sales. My wandering led me into a pet store with a dozen or so of the cutest dogs. I walked after minutes of sadly watching the dogs play in their tiny crates, thinking why would anyone buy a dog from here? I know all dogs need homes but we all know dogs from pet stores often (though not always) come from breeders who may not have sanitary conditions for breeding, who may be in it just for the profit thus selling to the pet store dogs with health conditions that may be unknown. The dogs clearly were marked for their breed and where they came from (the state/town) but it just seemed so cruel to me.
Those were a couple of the Beagles lounging in a crate that I saw
While my dog may not be an angel, I gave her a better life. She was born into a life unfit for a dog, and we took her in and gave her a life a gazillion times better than that. There are so many dogs in foster homes, and in shelters that need good homes why would you buy a dog that was bred for profit?
This is not to say I’m bashing people who breed dogs (or buy them from pet stores…)- I’m not. Getting a dog from a qualified breeder who is in it to maintain the breed of the dog is much much different than purchasing a dog at a pet store. I personally, would just never buy a dog from a pet store – a qualified hobbyist breeder is much different and the two should not be compared. It’s hard to find out from pet stores exactly where the dogs came from, their lineage and if they’re prone for diseases. Sure they’re all supposed to be AKC registered but after reading horror stories about people bringing home dogs from pet stores with parasites and a slue of other problems, I couldn’t fathom that (although my pup came with her own issues but it seems that a rescue dog is more likely to than a pet store dog consider those pups are usually only weeks old). I’m sure I sound far more judgemental than I am, but I would never judge anyone for buying any dog – all dogs deserve homes – pet store, breeder or shelter.
Walking out of that pet store I had tears in my eyes, and I wanted to take them all home with me. No dog deserves to be living in a small crate like that, no dog deserves to be couped up in a crate with another dog – especially as puppies when socialization is most important. Crating two dogs together does not socialize.
So this holiday season, fiancé and I decided to give to the Humane Society – a great cause with an amazing mission. All the dogs I’ve had have been rescue/shelter dogs. I couldn’t imagine not saving the life of a dog from the shelter when so many dogs that are in shelters are being killed if they can’t find good homes. So ’tis the season to give – time or money to causes that we all find worthy of hard earned dollars. For me? It’s those cute mutts at the shelter since I can’t take them all home with me.
What cause do you find worthy of giving to?
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
Seeing any animal in a cage breaks my heart. You’re a better person for adopting your Ellie. As for one of my favorite causes? My mom introduced me to the Rwanda Basket Company about a year ago and I’ve been buying their beautiful handmade baskets and weaves since. http://www.rwandabaskets.com/index.php?link=stories
i can totally relate to this story. every single one of my animals (2 dogs, 2 cats and 2 birds) with the exception of one of my puppies were rescued. my siamese cat, liza, came from a rescue in maryland. steve and i drove to get her and when we did… instantly fell in love. she was just days away from being put down and the lady we adopted her from that runs a siamese rescue snatched her up. she had a rough life leading up to us finding her, but now she’s a spoiled brat and gets catered to like you wouldn’t believe. i wouldn’t dream of getting a puppy or kitten from a breeder when there are so many other animals out there that need help.
thank you so much for posting this. xo
What a great story. I too despise pet stores who sell pets. I know exactly the store you were in when you mention CT (it’s 15 minute drive from my parents house!). My kitties were all found on petfinder and were all rescues.
The Human Society is a great cause to donate to. Will put that on my list. I donate to the American Heart Association in my grandmother’s name because she passed nearly ten years ago due to heart disease.
We give a monthly pledge to an animal rights organization. My life would suck without my three rescued cats, even though they destroy everything, too.
Those puppy stores break my heart every time!! It’s so awesome that you guys decided to give to the Humane Society! One of my resolutions is to give to a charity or nonprofit! I just haven’t decided which one yet! I’ll let you know when I do!
Happy New Year to you and your fiance!!
Aw, I am dying for a pup in our home… and when we get one, it will most definitely be from a shelter… no question about it.
Thanks for sharing this story… and Happy New Year, darlin!
Haha yip-yip dogs- I call them “little yippy dogs”- I hate them!
We bought a beagle from our neighbors, who bred them for the purpose of using them as hunting dogs 12 years ago. They let us have the “runt”, figuring he wouldn’t be any good. He’s turned into the biggest, strongest, happiest of all, because we gave him a good home and lots of love and room to run and play while his brothers and sisters were penned together at a holding facility and have all passed on. Our boy is still going strong, and I intend to make every pet a ‘rescue’ pet. I’m glad you gave to the Humane Society, it’s a wonderful cause.
You’re the best, you know that? I am an absolute dog fanatic, which is probably more than obvious. I would’ve had twelve if my parents had let me, but instead I volunteered most weekends at the animal shelter.
It was only right that when I finally did decide to adopt a dog, I got her from a shelter. Not to sound even dorkier than I already do, but that dog is my saving grace. She made me structure me life- made me stay home to do homework and care for her puppy self instead of going out drinking. Got me back to what I love most- running. And she’s always a warm body to snuggle with at night.
That’s so great that you got your dog from a rescue shelter – that’s what I want to do when I (eventually, hopefully someday soon) get a dog!
Your new site looks great!!!
You know… the new ASPCA commercials with Sarah Mcc?? singing breaks my heart. To think someone can abuse an animal so helpless, just tears at me… I got my shiba from a breeder and later found out about the shiba rescue, and my FH got his dog at a pet store… kinda like your experience, When he walked by the mall pet store, they had just gotten a shipment of dogs in, he took one look and knew he couldn’t leave that beautiful blue-eyed husky to be in a mall store. Although he probably paid more than he should have, we both know he would have paid 10 times more to save Juneau from that fate! If i had the space, money – i’d buy up all the puppies that were homeless everywhere
Sounds like you had a good New Year’s Eve. Thanks for sharing. Happy Pink Day.
Awww, your story sounds like how I got my Lucy. I wanted a real dog too, looked for a Boxer mix but ended up with the dopiest pit bull in the world. And I wouldn’t trade her for the entire world.
I think the Humane Society is a very worthy cause.
You know, my Lucy was called ‘Nancy’ at the shelter she was at before I got her. And she was (and still is) really high-string, though she’s calming down more and more as she gets older.
I love that y’all helped the Humane Society — I need to get involved with them in my area because it just breaks my heart how many animals out there won’t have the chance to have a good home, despite many finding homes through rescue agencies and shelters.
I think we all know how much I love and adore World Vision
There are a few others that I give to as well, though not as frequently as WV (which is a monthly thing). I do donate to the Humane Society from time to time, including a few of the local DC shelters. I’m also a fan of First Book, which donates books to low income children who don’t have access to new books. Also, I’m a big fan of Room to Read, which builds libraries in places where there aren’t any.