Obamas to rescue a dog from a shelter ASAP/Humane Society endorses Obama

[babylonsister]

Wagging the Rescue Dog Vote
Patt Morrison


Great news from the campaign on the rescue front!

Not the economic rescue package. This is a canine rescue package.

Michelle Obama pledged on ``Entertainment Tonight'' that when the family gets a dog - Barack Obama promised one to his daughters once the campaign is over - it will be a rescue dog from a shelter.

Online petitions urging the Obamas to do just that have been circulating, accumulating thousands of signatures from people - most of them probably voters - who want the Obamas to adopt a homeless dog, not buy a purebred. Ingrid Newkirk, the president of PETA, wrote to the senator personally, asking that he adopt a ``Great American Mutt'' from the thousands upon thousands of dogs doomed to die, ``When you are ready, please adopt a homeless pound puppy - a grateful refugee from a society that has not always treated the true ''underdog'' kindly ...''

(Personally, I am tickled by the Obamas' decision, and hope it will set an example for thousands of other Americans. The Los Angeles city shelter I visit regularly is overflowing with strays and dumped dogs. While I was dropping off old newspapers for the puppy and kitten cages the other day, people gave up three dogs in almost as few minutes, because they didn't want them or couldn't take care of them any more.)

Icing on the dog-biscuit cake: the Humane Society Legislative Fund is endorsing Obama, in no small part because of Sarah Palin's support for the appalling practice of aerial hunting of wolves, on which she overruled Alaska voters - real sportsmanship there on both counts -- and because she sued to keep polar bears from being listed as a threatened species.

more...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/patt-morrison/wagging-the-rescue-dog-vo_b_132233.html

[YOY]

1. I like it but couldn't give a lesser shit what Ingrid Newkirk says or thinks.

I do like the idea of "first mutt".

[otohara]

19. Why The Ingrind Hate

stopping the use of animals in crash tests, convincing companies from Gillette to Revlon to stop testing cosmetics on animals,<8> and has persuading grocery store chains such as Safeway to insist on higher welfare standards from the meat industry.

I'm sure there's something out there that pisses people off about Ingrind, even those who love animals. What did she do to offend you?

[YOY]

23. I'll not go into it here. This post is about something else.

I'm not a PETA fan though. To discuss it would change the topic from the wonderful notion that the Obamas would adopt an animal that needs adopting.

[otohara]

29. You're The One Who Brought Her Name into This Thread

you should have expected a response and prepared to explain.

[YOY]

30. Actually her name was in the OP.

n/t

[otohara]

32. Well Then That Explains Your Bashing

of the woman. Thanks!

[YOY]

33. Nope. This thread is about the Obamas adoping a dog.

Start a PETA thread and feel the love if you want to. It'll turn into a flamefest. They always do.

I'll leave you with my feelings on PETA simple and clear cut: "They're loons but they're our loons." Take that and run with it if you want. I'll not bite back.

[ingac70]

2. Isn't one of their daughters allergic?

Only something like 3 breeds that don't aggravate allergies.

[babylonsister]

3. Could be, but I've never heard that. nt

[eShirl]

5. a lot more than 3 breeds

* Airedale Terrier
* American Hairless Terrier
* Barbet (dog)
* Basenji
* Bedlington Terrier
* Bergamasco
* Bichon Frisé
* Bolognese
* Border Terrier
* Bouvier des Flandres
* Cairn Terrier
* Chacy Ranior
* Coton de Tulear
* Dandie Dinmont Terrier
* Fox Terrier (Wire)
* Havanese
* Irish Water Spaniel
* Kerry Blue Terrier
* Lagotto Romagnolo
* Lhasa Apso
* Maltese
* Peruvian Inca Orchid
* Poodle
o Miniature Poodle
o Toy Poodle
* Portuguese Water Dog
* Puli
* Samoyed (dog)
* Scottish Terrier
* Shih Tzu
* Silky Terrier
* Schnauzer
o Giant Schnauzer
o Miniature Schnauzer
o Standard Schnauzer
* Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
* West Highland White Terrier
* Yorkshire Terrier


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypoallergenic_dog_breeds

[doodadem]

16. Add Greyhounds to your list

Hypoallergenic, and you do a good thing by saving a well-screened Greyhound from being put down. BUT you have to educate yourself about their care, and have a large fenced-in area for them to run.........say, the Whitehouse lawn.

[1Hippiechick]

36. Oo-oo-ooo - greyhound household here - we've had 5, currently 2 plus 2 other rescues

but I'm not going to post their pix here. Do you have greys?

[DainBramaged]

10. It's called Benadryl

allergic you grow out of, love you don't

[Lisa0825]

38. I'd be walking around like a zombie if I had to take Benadryl everyday.

There are some non-drowsy allergy meds OTC now, but they don't work the same on everyone. I agree that most people could probably find a way around the allergies, but it's not that simple for everyone.

[DainBramaged]

46. Oh well.................

ya know, the love of a pet, a warm furry one, should never be denied a child, and those who tell me " my kids were allergic" usually can't be bothered. I was kid of the 50's/60's, and NO ONE was allergic to pets, peanuts, had ADD or ADHD, were "problem children", so many things that are excuses today just didn't exist when I was growing up.

Take the kid to a shelter, see if they have a reaction, and then look for a solution. Period.

Oh and I take SIX pills every morning JUST to stay alive, so don't tell me about being a zombie from Benadryl.

[Lisa0825]

57. I work for a rescue, so I generally take the same side as you on the issue.

I am just saying that it's not fair to blame everyone who might not be able to handle the allergies, or for whom medication might not work as well.

I wish you the best with your health issues. Many people are highly sensitive to Benadryl's drowsy effects, which is why it is the same active ingredient in OTC sleeping pills.

[DainBramaged]

58. My beautiful English Bullie (Corey) now gone, had allergies

and the vet prescribed Benadryl for her, one adult strength during the Spring and fall. Since her and my Lab are now gone, and I can't have a dog in my apartment, I am considering (seriously considering) volunteering at the shelter on 46 a 1/2 mile from me in Netcong.

I needs the company of dogz.



OH and I have an ADOPT magnet on my trunk. Yes, I am 'holier than the rest (LOLOL).

[Lisa0825]

66. You definitely should! :-)

Volunteering at my local shelter was the best decision I ever made. :)

[my3boyz]

100. My son's allergist said her daughter takes allergy

shots to cure her of her pet allergy. I did not know that they could do that. My son takes allergy shots for seasonal and mold allergies. However, she said allergy shots have been quite successful with her daughter.

[karynnj]

39. I disagree

This is a pet the girls are likely to be around for the next decade. The one who is allergic should not have to take medicine for years. But as was noted, there are many dogs that are less a problem. (We had the same problem when our three daughters wanted a dog and one had asthma. We limited the choice to a shorter list than is here.)

[DainBramaged]

49. I had SEVERE allergies until I turned around 35 (still have a few)

(inhalants, MSG, shellfish, tannin in wine and leather, grass, I could go on) but having a pet even though it affected me was never a second thought.


:hi:

[goodgd_yall]

47. That's an ignorant response

If you don't take care to avoid allergens if you have allergies, they'll only get worse. And medicine, especially benadryl---for a child---is not the cure-all. You have to work on avoidance as well.

[Name removed]

50. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[goodgd_yall]

51. You fit your name to a "T" n/t

[Teaser]

82. Welcome to the internet

we hope you enjoy your stay

:hi:

[DainBramaged]

74. And for those of you with thin skins, (and you KNOW who you are)

Try Claritin, and then pound some salt in to dry up those concern tears.

[ellacott]

11. Yes, one daughter is allergic to certain dogs

They were looking into getting a dog that doesn't have fur. They were looking for a hypoallergenic dog that has less dander.

[goclark]

44. Maltese are on the list of OK ~

Mine was such a joy and I am allergic to everything.

One problem still remains, while the hair is like human hair, when they go outside and bring the outside in, the grass, dirt, can be a problem.

I would always wipe his feet off when we came in from a lovely walk.

My 11 beautiful years with my Maltese were golden.

I can't wait to see the OBAMA family and the new puppy in the WH.

Hope it's a Maltese.

[goodgd_yall]

45. That's exactly why it would be better for them to get a purebred

I prefer mixes and mutts myself, but if they want to ensure they have a low allergenic dog, they should adopt one of the breeds that's noted for that. There are more than 3 breeds that are considered low allergenic. They could still get a rescue dog, rather than buy from a breeder though.

[ingac70]

52. Mutts are my preference...

for overall personality, but if I was allergic I would get a poodle or something. A rescue, of course!

[LeftyMom]

56. Plenty of purebred dogs in shelters.

[a la izquierda]

63. Labradoodles don't cause allergies...

as far as I know.


But my husband found a purebred Vizsla wandering around the wilds of Oklahoma, so we got lucky to end up with a purebred by default.

[Neecy]

75. sure they could

All dogs in animal shelters aren't mixed breeds - it's actually not difficult to find a purebred if you keep looking.

There are also breed rescue groups that often rescue from shelters they could utilize for a purebred.

[Geek_Girl]

81. There are allot of Chihuahua and grey hounds that need adoption

nt

[mrs_p]

85. to cats, i believe

not dogs

[Arugula Latte]

4. That's great. I wish they'd get a kitty, too.

[baldguy]

6. Rescue dogs are the best! Especially if they're mutts!

This calls for a Zelda pic.

[YOY]

8. That's a cutie!

Looks sweet too!

[wildflower]

12. I love her eyes

Especially the turquoise and brown colors together.

[kestrel91316]

80. The turquoise is just the tapetal light reflex, like "red eye" in human pics.

I know, I'm such a killjoy sometimes.

[LisaM]

53. Ohh......I had a rescue named Zelda.

She eventually died of old age (16 and a half) in my arms. I adopted her along with her brother, Scott, when they were puppies (Scott died when he was 13 and a half). We've continued to adopt rescue dogs - mutts - cocker golden mixes.

Give your Zelda a big squeeze from me!

[Blondiegrrl]

62. She's beautiful! Pretty coloring, too.

Here' a link to my mutts:

Molly:
http://www.dogster.com/dogs/290286

Luka:
http://www.dogster.com/dogs/431117

My cat Nigel is a shelter rescue as well:
http://www.dogster.com/dogs/431117

[stuntcat]

89. ((Zelda))

obviously a very good girl! :loveya:

[pnwmom]

7. Actually, most of the dogs at shelters are purebreds, not mutts.

At least in the Seattle area.

Inadvertent side effect of well-meant neutering campaigns.

[maxsolomon]

22. purebred Pit Bulls, more than likely.

the preferred breed of neglectful, macho jerkoff owners who like to bask in the reflected athletic glory.

[pnwmom]

28. When we were looking for a puppy, it seemed like 9/10 at shelters were pit bulls.

I remember seeing an ad in the paper at the time that said only: 2 mixed breed puppies, $500. So now you have to pay a premium to get a mutt!

[CTyankee]

65. I don't know about the Obamas getting a pit bull...

altho it seems a shame that it would make a difference.

[pnwmom]

79. They talked about fur allergies, so maybe they'll end up with some

kind of poodle-mix or other low-shedder. If they look hard enough.

[CTyankee]

83. I think this is SUCH a winner for them in this campaign!

Not that I don't think they are really sincere. I do. It is just such a winner with animal lovers. And there are lots of them!

Ithink this is a great thing for the Obamas to do. I am very happy about it.

[Orsino]

54. Or could be.

Without papers, there is no proof.

[WA98070]

9. People with small children should be extremely careful when adopting from shelters because...

you don't know why the dog is there. There are other dogs that need adopting ---- elderly who can no longer care for them. People who are relocated.

[SallyMander]

14. Many shelters will do a bunch of temperment tests

before adopting out dogs. I think this is a silly thing to worry about and a bad reason to avoid adopting from a shelter.

ETA, plus the Obama girls are old enough to know how to treat a dog nicely -- they're not going to grabbing/pulling ears/etc like a really little kid might.

[hamsterjill]

24. Don't buy while shelter pets die!

Yes, most shelters conduct temperament testing and most have a "return" policy should a pet simply not work out in a home situation.

This is a wonderful thing for the Obama's to do. Millions of perfectly adoptable pets are euthanized in this nation each year because they have no home.

It is a wonderful thing for the Obama's to get a shelter dog. It sends a strong message.

[SallyMander]

25. Here are my two pound puppies

a.k.a. the loves of my life! :D

[hamsterjill]

70. You go, Sallymander!!!

They are absolutely adorable!!! Bless you for giving them a good home!

[stuntcat]

86. they're full o Love

"MOMMY!" they're thinking :loveya: :loveya:

[mod mom]

27. Adopt a puppy. I adopted a year old dog (before kids) that turned out to be a

dog from hell-dominance aggression, separation anxiety and severe allergies to name a few of her issues.

Here's a story about Hadrian (a border collie/lab mix)-A friend had brought back an architecture book from a trip to Finland as a gift to my husband. While my husband was in the other room Hadrian destroyed the book. In anger, my husband threw the book at the dog and was bit. He was livid that I had to chose between him and the dog. I said that since he was bit they would put the dog down and I could not do that. We ended up taking Hadrian to a dog psychologist at a nearby university (recommended by her dermatologist). I was given a choice of treatments. One was to have someone beat the dog to submission (I can't believe this was even mentioned but I was told a person dons protective gear and fights the dog. the second treatment, which of course, I chose, was for both of us to go through extensive behavior training. This was very time consuming, but Hadrian turned into the most loyal and loving dog one could imagine. When our children were born, she was protective of them but we could totally trust her with them. She lived a very happy life as a city dog during the week and a country dog on weekends. (We had a 10 1/2 acre wooded weekend home surrounded by corn fields). Her and our other shelter dog, a 12 lbs terrier were free range dogs. We has an acre and 1/2 pond and she would come home so filthy that she required a bath after every excursion.

My lesson after Hadrian was since I have young children, I always adopted a puppy after that.

[arikara]

37. Wow...

What a heartwarming story.

:hug:

[XemaSab]

61. We got a dog that was found as a stray by the dog catcher

She was about to be put down and we rescued her.

She is the SWEETEST dog we've ever had. Polite, well-behaved, good tempered, usually pretty calm but also willing to chase a ball... she came to us already knowing how to stay, wait, and so forth, which is stuff we've never had the diligence to teach any of our other dogs.

We wouldn't give up our Pip for ANYTHING.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

13. Somebody, somewhere, is going to bash Obama for accepting a suggestion from PETA.

Even if it's something as innocuous as "adopt a dog."

You read it here first.

[nxylas]

17. Doctor Solomon is very wise

[taddles]

68. So what...

someone somewhere is going to bash Obama for anything at any time regardless. Fuck them.

We read that same comment about nay number of things first on a lot of sites about 2 years ago....you really got to get with the pulse.

[CTyankee]

69. No, I don't think the McCain campaign would dare go there.

Adopting a homeless mutt for your kids is endearing. Obama would sure get the animal lovers vote!

[demmiblue]

99. Not to mention the fact that it would show a stark contrast between

an animal lover (adopts a canine in need of a home), and an animal hater (aerial shooting of canines, $150 for canine legs).

[CTyankee]

104. wonderful analogy! Thanks for that!

It helps with those animal lovers who might be quivering (altho I don't know how) to vote the other way. Please god, don't let it be...

[undeterred]

15. Yay for the Obamas! But they can't have this one.

This is Oliver- I got him this weekend. I found him on Petfinder.com which shows pets from shelters all over the country. I drove 540 miles to get him. He's a cheesehead now.

:loveya:

[Vinca]

18. He looks like a real sweetheart. Congratulations! nt

[SallyMander]

26. Aww, congrats on your new puppy!

He looks like a doll! :loveya:

[IndyOp]

40. You got him! New pics! New pics! Please post new pics in the pet forum.

Oliver is a gorgeous, gorgeous boy!

:loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya:

[undeterred]

48. I got no more pics yet!

But I got the pup and he is gorgeous!

[taddles]

71. Grats on the new cheesball. ;o)

My kids are a couple of rescue Westies, one from MN and one from KS.

[stuntcat]

91. lol cheesehead

I like his white feet. He's a very very lucky cheesehead, I think.

[SuperTrouper]

20. Meanwhile, Embarracuda keeps on killing baby wolves in AK

[mod mom]

21. Yeah. Why limit the gene pool with a "pure bred"?

[radfringe]

31. MCCAIN CAMPAIGN ANNOUNCES

McCain will adopt ___ dogs from shelters... one dog for each of his houses. A spokesman for the mccain campaign said he would get back to us on teh exact number of houses and dogs...

[1Hippiechick]

34. The Obamas can achieve both if they want a purebred. Amazing how many purebreds are abandoned.

We have racetrack rescue greyhounds, and after adopting 1 or 2, our hearts became drawn to the less "adoptable" ones - the ones that no one else would want - aging, health problems, etc. I can guarantee ANYone who adopts a rescue animal - they come to you, somehow KNOWING that you have rescued them, and they will reward you with their very life. That's a guarantee.

[RichardRay]

35. The adoption center here in Jackson Hole has

a program in which ALL the dogs in the center that are cleared for adoption go home with someone each weekend. The dogs that need special care, or have tempermant issues stay at the center where someone is around all the time, but all the other dogs get a weekend in a new home each week. Keeps them socialized and easy to place. The folks who take them are often situations where they can't have a dog full time, or are full to capacity for full time dogs but can take another one of two on the weekend.

The center also has an exchange program with Best Friends down in Utah where Best Friends takes the hard cases, the very old and the seriously ill and 'trades' them for dogs that have been at Best Friends and are ready to have a new home.

If you've don't know about Best Friends check them out at Best Friends Animal Society.

Maybe Barack can stop in with the kids when he passes through Utah campaigning - it seems like Utah and Wyoming are about the only states he hasn't hit up to now!

[lukasahero]

41. Bella approves

and says she'll be watching.

[stuntcat]

87. Bella!

I love her name. She has beautiful eyes.

[lukasahero]

103. Thanks!

Sorry - just saw your response. Bella is a "pound puppy" from Puerto Rico. We didn't name her, the nun who rescued her did but since her name means "beautiful", we had to keep it. :) Oh, and she's ridiculously charming.

[npincus]

42. nothing wrong w/a photo-op- why not adopt the shelter doggie NOW?

Gotta love a guy who saves a pet!

[Omaha Steve]

43. This is the first HSUS endorsement for President EVER!

K&R!

[flvegan]

55. Technically, HSUS isn't endorsing anybody.

As a 501c3, they can't. That's partially why they created the Humane Society Legislative Fund, which is strictly politically motivated and not a "charity".

[freestyle]

59. Woo hoo. We adopted our bundle of dog joy 3 years ago.

Your local animal shelter should be the first (and hopefully only) stop when getting a pet.

[Blondiegrrl]

60. Oh, this is wonderful news! It actually brought tears to my eyes.

I volunteer at an animal shelter in which the average kill rate is 75 to 80 percent. It is frustrating and infuriating to see all these beautiful, healthy, and often young, animals euthanized because of human irresponsibility.

The Obamas adopting a shelter dog will set a wonderful example for the rest of the country. I always knew Barack was a good man. It pleases me to see that fact confirmed time and again.

My two mutts and my shelter kitty thank the Obamas as well!

:toast:

[a la izquierda]

64. My life is infinitely better because of my two strays.

I miss them daily when I don't see them (haven't for two months). One is a bulldog/boxer mix, the other a Vizsla. They're great.

[MISSDem]

67. Yea! Way to go!!!

American dogs are the greatest.

[zulchzulu]

72. I get to take my rescue dog to work and her head is on my feet right now

She's the best dang dog in the World!

[stuntcat]

92. she goes to work.

Good Dog!
She's just beautiful :loveya:

[gauguin57]

73. Hey, Obama family ... get yourself an English setter mix from an English setter rescue group.

You'll be glad you did. Best family dog in the world!

[DeschutesRiver]

78. Or - shameless plug - for an English Pointer from a rescue group:)

After losing a cherished older dog early this year, I did something I'd never done before, which is rescue my next dog. Had bought from breeders many times before.

This time, I found on Petfinders.com a severely emaciated English Pointer, fed her up, and now am owned by a happy, happy, joy, joy kind of girl, who helped me heal my heart! I can't still believe me and my girl got so lucky to find each other, simply the sweetest dog imaginable.

GoBama family!

[catgirl]

76. Thanks for the great news post!!

I have 5 recued cats and 3 rescued dogs. All beautiful mutts!

[Eyes_wide_ open]

77. Rescue Dogs

Meet Munchkin, rescued from the parking lot at work shortly before I was laid off in the spring of this year. Pitiful when I found her, she's fat and sassy now, and my best friend.

[stuntcat]

93. she was so lucky

however she got where she was, she was lucky YOU found her. She's a good little girl.

[saltpoint]

84. Kick. Because it's all over for McCain if he loses the puppy vote.

Short of turning over one of his 7 houses to become a homeless shelter, I don't think McCain has a prayer in the kitchen-table zone versus Obama.

Obama is outwitting him at all levels of this campaign.

[LWolf]

88. Animals suffer during financial crises, too.

They are often the first to go when things get too tight for comfort. I could have picked up 3 well-loved dogs from different people this summer, if I wanted another dog. Right now, I know of 5 horses, all registered, being given away for nothing, and many others that would have cost thousands a couple of years ago going for a few hundred, because owners can't feed them this winter.

I'm not taking any. Things are tight at my house, too, and I can't afford to feed more than I have.

One dog, one cat, 9 chickens, 1 sheep, and 3 horses. I sold most of the sheep for a fraction of their value, being a rare and endangered breed. I couldn't find a buyer for the last sheep, so she "herds" with the horses. She's free to anyone who wants her.

I hope the Obamas can find an appropriate dog at a shelter. I'd go for the greyhound, if I were them.

[saltpoint]

90. Agree. In financial hard times and post-Katrina, animals suffer also.

And a greyhound would be perfect for the Obama household.

[LWolf]

94. I sometimes,

as I gear up for another intense, stressful day at work, wish that I were comfortably, or more than comfortably retired. I'd take as many of those displaced 4-footed friends as I could.

Instead, I do the best I can to make sure MINE will be okay for their lifetimes. It runs in the family; my mom has 2 dogs and 4 cats, all rescues. She's full up, and keeps trying to pass more on to me, lol.

If I can't afford to keep them vaccinated and fed, though, I can't take them. That would be something to set up: free vaccination clinics for those who opened their homes to a displaced animal.

[saltpoint]

96. Yes -- it's an excellent idea. In the way Dubya set up a t-ball court

on the White House lawn, Obama could open an animal shelter.

It would be pretty affordable and make a powerful statement. And good lord -- talk about a contrast in styles between the fake cowboy and the new guy!

[LWolf]

97. The fake cowboy; I have a hard time maintaining

respect for my fellow Americans when they buy that shit.

People believe what they want to believe, I guess. I'll tell you what I'd like to film. I'll send dubya out to catch my senior mare. He'll never lay a finger on her, but we'll have fun watching, and they'll both get a good workout. With appropriate background music, we'd win "America's Funniest Home Videos."

I wouldn't let him near her if I thought he had a chance in hell of getting within 20 feet of her; she's sensitive, and needs a calm, sane hand. He wouldn't though. No way in hell.

It would have been even more fun to hoist him aboard her brother, who would have either stood out in the open with all four feet soldered to the earth, refusing to move a foot in any direction for any reason, or dumped him in a flash and turned around to laugh at him. He passed away, peacefully from old age, last month. He wasn't sensitive. Too smart for the average cowboy, let alone the fake cowboys, with a mind of his own, but not the least bit sensitive.

[saltpoint]

98. From one or two pretty reliable sources, I'm told that George W. Bush is

afraid of horses.

For all the "I'm a Texas cowboy" BS, it's interesting that he's afraid of horses.

[jules1962]

95. This is great news.

I don't know that this is entirely because of the lady for PETA asking them to do this. About a year ago, I didn't know how to get in touch with Obama so I wrote Oprah and asked her to send the message about adoption and rescue on to them. Oprah is big on adoption and rescue. This will generate a lot of publicity for shelters and rescues. I noticed that one person said that with a young dog you don't know what you will get from a shelter. Most humane society shelters socialize their animals and put them in foster care for that reason. The reason that most animals are in shelters is because of negligent owners and not of any fault of the pet. Please adopt and rescue and report any puppy mills.:woohoo:

[Clio the Leo]

101. Just when I think the man cant make me ANY happier...

..... he fulfills my secret wish of getting a rescue dog. I understand the benefits of purbred dogs, but paying hundreds of $$ for a dog when so many are put down each day is such a sad, sad thing.

[jcla]

102. Yeah! I have had three rescue dogs! Three of the best dogs

in the world! All of mine have been mixed breeds. All wonderful. Only one was a puppy. He was about 2 1/2 weeks old when we got him. We have had him for ten years... Think yellow lab ... that is what he looks like but he is a mix. Our Bruno. Great with babies to the elderly. Was our late cat, Mr. Jinx's best follower. Our Boo. Halloween is his favorite time... he thinks the children come to see him!

Sheena a huskie/shepard mix was our old sweet girl. Our neighbors were left her by their nephew who died. When our neighbor's husband got sick we shared her (at our house .. She loved us and Bruno). After 4 years she died and we were heart broken. Energetic and sweet she loved every one and water! She was funny and wise. I see Boo using some of her same tactics with Sadie.

Sadie is our current little girl. Pointer mix. Excellent meeting dogs, very social, non-dominant with people. She was just over a year old when we got her. The vet loves her. He can poke and prod her and she just wiggles her tail and gives kisses. She house trained easily, walks on a leash the best of all our dogs and really loves to walk... Head down, tail in low wag she strides happily along. She loves to walk with other dogs.. friendly gentle happy talker, Sadie!

But guess what! There are many pure breeds in shelters, also... of all ages. They need to be patient and pick the dog or puppy for them. It might take a while but I applaud their decision.