My
husband and I recently adopted a new dog. It’s been nearly a year
since Sage died, and we’ve felt the tugging for a few months,
prompting us to consider bringing another dog into our home. However,
we still have Cody, and two cats also call our house ‘home’,
therefore, we had to be quite selective as to the personality and age
of a new dog. Mary, a half-springer/half-cocker, fit the bill: older,
spayed female, raised with cats, calm, attentive and trained, and
therapy-pet trained to boot! She and Cody bonded almost instantly,
and one of our cats is now also a friend (the other continues to
allude and hide, but that flightiness is just part of her
temperament). Mary’s former owned died suddenly, and the family
needed to find a new home for her, so they turned to a rescue
organization for assistance in re-homing her.
Adoption
Requires Adaption
Adoption
can be turmoil for all involved. I think of the drastic changes in
Mary's life, from a loving home of nearly six years, to a foster home
to our home. How confusing that must be for a dog! Yet, dogs are
resilient, and as along as they are given love, encouragement,
attention and acceptance, they do adjust. Just as Sage adapted to her
new home and her situation of becoming blind, so Mary is adjusting to
a new life with us. Soon, she and I will begin therapy training,
becoming partners in helping others, just as she and her former owner
did, providing even greater stability and certainty in her life.
Adjustments
Our
lives, too, need to adjust. Although there are similarities between
Mary and Sage because of the Springer breed, Mary is sighted; and
many times when she sees something (person, cat, dog) out the front
window, she barks. And, though Cody can also see, he is elderly
(nearly 15!) and can no longer jump up on the furniture to look out
the window – therefore, his barking is not as frequent. And, being
younger than Cody, Mary has more energy – she needs more frequent
and longer walks as well as more time in the backyard. We are all
adjusting and learning.
Despite
the changes, there is greater joy and comfort in our home. Mary loves
to snuggle in bed and cuddle on the couch. She lays beside my feet
while I'm in my sunroom office and next to my husband's desk in his
home office. She has come to trust us, accept us, and bask in the
companionship of us and our other pets.
Statistics
Not
all homeless pets are as fortunate. Statistics
indicate nearly 7 million dogs and cats are turned over to
shelters and rescues every year; almost half are euthanized. Yet,
millions of people in America are pet owners and spend billions
of dollars each year on pet food, supplies, and goodies,
including clothing. People love pets!
Share
Warmth, Share Love – Adopt!
As
spring casts its warmth upon the land, may we who love dogs and cats
share the warmth of love with animals in need. Adoption is a
beautiful thing, and opening one's heart and home to a pet who needs
that love and warmth helps to save lives. Perhaps your heart, like
mine, is being tugged to again love a pet... share that love –
Adopt! Visit your local shelter or rescue organization or stop by
Petfinder.com – your new
furry friend just might be a short distance or a click away -- ours was!
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