Animal "Rescue" Groups

Today, I would like to discuss animal rescue groups.

Particularly, I would like to talk about dog rescue groups... obviously. Dog adoptions are usually known for their heartwarming stories that result from accepting or saving dogs from bad situations, fixing them up, and finding them a wonderful home and everyone lives happily ever after. My problem with some "rescue groups" is the fact that they choose to specialize in "purebred" dog adoption. First of all, based on the definition of a purebred dog, a dog that is picked up from an animal shelter most likely won't have documentation based on its ancestors so that in itself nulls the idea of considering them to be certified in any way. Overall, my problem with most of these "purebred rescues" is the fact that they don't even wait until a dog is up for adoption to go "save" it from a shelter. What I'm getting at... the likelihood of a cute fluffy designer dog (like the one pictured left) being chosen for adoption is much higher than that of say a black lab with mange, so, why do these "rescue groups" feel the need to go pick up only purebred dogs with no health issues and turn around and sell them for around $400 or more? Honestly, if you have any insight on this matter, then I'd love to hear your point-of-view. As some of you may already know, Leia (pictured right) was a rescue (see her story here) who spent a month of her short life in a cage before I spotted her at Cobb County Animal Control. That being said, I will back the "Adopt, don't shop" policy until the day I die, but I just can't understand the groups described above.

How do you feel about "purebred" dog rescue groups? Do you have a personal experience?

The Burden of Buying Heartworm Pills and Flea Meds

Time and time again I hear people talking about how expensive it is to keep up with dog's heartworm and flea medications. Obviously, we all want to keep our pups safe and healthy, but some people decide that these medications are the area to skimp and save money. While this might seem like a wise decision at the time of saving $150 every six months, the cost of getting rid of fleas or the immense treatment of a case of heartworms can make $150 look like pocket change. Heartworms are a parasite that spread through mosquito bites. Once a dog is infected, it is hard to say whether or not they'll be able to live through the aggressive treatments. You can read more about heartworm infection here. Now, you ask, what's the point of this? Well, I've found various ways of finding cheap medications that are usually quite expensive. First of all, when you rescue a dog, the rescue group is on your side. They want that pup to stay healthy and happy just as much as you do. The Humane Society provides a link to a site called Petango that sells heartworm meds for less than half of what you would pay for at a vet's office. I used that site for a while until my mom adopted her dog. They gave her a link to a site that sells generic brands of heartworm pills. I bought a year's worth of heartworm protection pills for $34! Additionally, I scored some cheaper Frontline on... EBAY! I was a little apprehensive but it was shipped within the U.S. and arrived sealed and everything within a matter of days. So, next time you're low on cash, try these sites. Saving money is more worth it than not spending any in the long run!

Feel free to ask questions or share some more money saving tips!

Pricey Puppy

One of the most important things to keep in mind with the purchase of a new dog is all of the stuff they need...along with everything you just can't resist (like these awesome pet pajamas). To begin with, I took Leia to the vet this past weekend. Luckily, the wonderful office I went to didn't charge me for her first exam since she was a rescue. However, she does need one more set of puppy shots. They provided me with a $46.00 estimate but I know these can be more expensive, especially if a puppy hasn't had the first 2 sets of shots. Then I had to purchase flea medication and heart worm preventative. I was able to find 3 applications of Frontline for $25 and a 6-month, generic brand of Heartguard for $17. These rates are very cheap compared to most purchases of these products. Check back for another post on where to find these great discounts! Moving right along, I also strongly believe in crate training your dog before letting them have the run of the house. This helps with potty training, chewing, and overall obedience. In order to accomplish this, you have to purchase a cage... and you'll likely need a size bigger than what's "recommended." I purchased a $43 medium cage from Walmart at first. The cage was recommended for dogs 30-40 lbs. Well, my 16 lb puppy could barely fit in this cage and definitely couldn't stretch out so I went online and purchased a huge crate for $40. Now you can see how this money all adds up to quite an expense and this isn't even including her $115 adoption fee nor her dog food, nail clippers, shampoo, toothbrush, toys, food bowls, collar, leash, name tag... or the $20 blanket she destroyed. Anyway, hopefully you're beginning to see the big picture and all of the cost considerations as they definitely add up. If I had to do it again, I would wait until after Christmas to even look at puppies as I had originally planned but I definitely don't regret my decision to take Leia home. It was definitely worth a few days of having to eat Ramen and cutting back on some personal expenses but it would be nice to wait and ask for some Petsmart giftcards for Christmas. Please stay tuned on where to find some discounted deals and other puppy advice!

New Arrival!

I found my doggy soul mate! Leia, formerly Celine, is a 16 pound perfect Whippet/Lab mix (they think). After stalking a different dog online for a few days, I decided to go get to know her a little better as I saw her in the shelter the week before. The Australian Shepherd mix ended up being way too high energy for my apartment, pulling me about the shelter and jumping to the height of my chest. At first it was a major let down and I intended on leaving the shelter and waiting a little while longer before looking again. That's when I saw Leia. She had been there since before the last time I had visited, adding up to nearly a month in the shelter. Being a black dog, I knew she had a disadvantage but I really thought someone would scoop up the 5 month old adorable pup before I even had a chance to return. I took her out of her cage as the time ticked by in the shelter that was due to close within the next ten minutes. I didn't want to make any rash decisions but there she was. The seemingly perfect puppy that sits, shakes, and licks everyone to death. What happened next was a moment that only happy dog owners know... she gave me the look. The adorable puppy-eyed, tail wagging, eye locking gaze that gives you that feeling inside like you know you're just meant to be together. I grabbed her information card and reassured her that she'd be coming home with me as I placed her back in her cage. As I rushed to the front, I couldn't help but wonder what the heck I was thinking but I had prepared for this day and you just can't predict when it will actually happen. I like to think it's kind of like having a child in that way. No one is ever really "ready" but eventually you know it's just time. I waited with anticipation and anxiousness as she came wagging through the double doors after her microchip insertion. That was it. She was mine. Even as I got her in the car I wondered what I was doing and if it was the right move but she was perfect. She sat right down in the passenger's seat... and proceeded to vomit on the way home. I actually found myself laughing as I comforted her knowing we were both feeling a little uneasy about what our futures held together. More to come about my little Princess Leia! Feel free to share your stories or worries about your dog's homecoming!!

The Cat Goes

The last thing you want when choosing a dog is one that doesn't get along with your other animals. While it can be hard to tell right off the bat whether or not your dog will get along with your new dog or your cat won't try to claw its eyes out, it is important to try to discover before giving the dog the hope of a new home. A lot of rescues will do home visits before adoption. They don't want the dog to end up in another bad situation any more than you do. Another option, if you know your pets are generally fine with other dogs, you can take your new potential for a walk around the shelter to see if there are any potential fights that might arise. Also, many rescue groups hold their dogs in foster homes and experiment with these types of situations so they can provide adopters with as much advice as possible. Petfinder even allows you to choose options in their "additional search options" menu. These options include what your household includes (children, cats, dogs) as well as size and characteristics. While many shelters can't provide this information, many rescue groups can.
Additionally, there is always an adjustment period to consider when bringing a new animal into your home. For instance, my mom has had our dog Baxter for about 8 years now. 3 years ago, she decided to bring a new puppy into the family. At first, Baxter was skeptical and jealous and didn't appreciate a new little girl playing with his toys. However, he established his dominance and she accepted it after a few scuffles and now they're best friends most days. There's still the occasional old man grumpy moments. In that case he just steals Bella's ball and won't give it back while she whines and begs for him to do so. Overall, there can be obstacles in any case when bringing home a new dog, but you have to be smart about it and consider everyone's needs and allow for some time and patience before giving up on them.  

RESCUE DOG

The most important thing on my list when considering adopting a dog is that it's a rescue! I don't believe in supporting puppy mills and over-breeding by shopping at pet stores with overpriced puppies that will likely have multiple health issues due to the breeding that takes place. Overall, there are plenty of dogs lined up to die that are sitting in shelters waiting to be adopted. It's the cold hard sad truth. Plus, every time you adopt from a shelter or animal rescue, another spot opens up for an animal on the kill list. Another exciting fact about dog adoption is that it's usually pretty cheap! For instance, Atlanta Humane Society prices right now are $100 for a dog over 6 months and $175 for a puppy under 6 months. The best part is... it includes everything! The dog comes microchipped, spayed/neutered, up to date on shots, a wellness exam is included, and even a small bag of food! Personally, I think that makes it all worth it if you weren't convinced already. The wellness exam alone can run around $150.

Another thing people use as an excuse to buy instead of adopt is that they don't know everything about where a dog came from or what the dogs tendencies will be. This is the very opposite of what the case may be. Usually you have a pretty good idea of what the dog is mixed with and, more-so, people get to know these shelter dogs! Most of the time they know if they're good with kids, if they're potty trained, if they enjoy love or want to be left alone, energy level... the list goes on! That's a lot more than you can say about a puppy that sits in a glass case all day.

There's just something about a shelter dog and the story that comes with them as you give them a lifelong home. Do you agree? Share your story!

Gender Neutral

Another thing I've found to be a big preference for me is gender. Now, this isn't necessarily true for all dogs but I've found male dogs to have more of a protector personality while female dogs seem to be the more lovey dovey type. While this obviously varies quite a bit and you really just have to feel it out when you meet the dogs, I've noticed in my experiences that females seem to give me the loving attention I prefer and want the same in return.

For instance, my dog from birth to about 8 was a male West Highland Terrier. I remember him following me around but he wasn't very lovey and probably just tolerated me most of the time.
However, Dixie was a whole different ball game. She was a little mutt that followed me everywhere, slept in bed with me, and overall just had an amazing personality.

This is not to degrade any male dog versus female dog. Again, this is just personal preference in the differences I've noticed in personalities. Do you have a preference regarding male or female dogs?

Dog Days Ahead

My experiences owning dogs have led me to multiple conclusions and discoveries. This time, I want to share some of the thoughts I go through as I embark on my process of finding a dog. You should know, I never look at a dog as just a dog; it's a member of the family. Believe it or not, there are many aspects to consider while searching for a dog and I do believe everyone should consider every aspect, issue, and fur ball. Why is it so important to realize the ins and outs of a dog before taking the new member home? Well, how would you like it if your parents decided you just weren't a good fit for the family and they could return you? Now, don't get me wrong, I made my mistakes as a young college student itching to get a dog. Let's look at Barkley for example. 

Barkley seemed like the most perfect dog in the world the second I laid eyes on him and he was. We got along great, enjoyed visits to the park, and he even had a special spot in bed. After 2 years of having Barkley, I knew more about him than anyone could imagine. The problem was, it wasn't all good and I wasn't all that mature. For starters, Barkley would try to attack friend's children. This was completely innocent as he's a dog. If I had a problem with that behavior, I should have questioned it before taking him home. He was just the type that didn't understand what the heck these miniature creatures were no matter what I tried. Heck, he'd even growl and snarl at new people he just decided he wasn't going to like. Still, it was no reason for me to get rid of him. I could never justify that. It wasn't until one day that I received a notice on my door that I had never paid the pet deposit for Barkley. Unfortunately, that was $400 I just didn't have. I came to the conclusion that I hadn't been fair to Barkley in the recent months and had barely been home enough to give him the attention he deserved. Funny enough, this is an excuse that upsets me on a daily basis now. Lucky for me, my ex agreed to take Barkley. Giving him up was the hardest thing I ever had to do. It seemed like it was in Barkley's best interest at the time. It seemed selfless. While there may be some truth to that, the real truth is that you know you're committing to taking a dog for the next 15+ years when you adopt them. You know what your pet deposit will cost or you find somewhere else to live. You know the details of the commitment and you would never just decide to find a new home for your child. Barkley was like my child. So, while Barkley was a learning experience for me, I've started this blog in the hopes that someone else can learn from my mistakes. I was lucky enough to be able to give Barkley a home with someone he already loved as much as me but dogs have feelings and hearts just like humans and it's possible there's something missing without me in his life.

If you don't believe me, I would strongly recommend the following video of a woman reuniting with her dog. Take a look HERE. 

Stay tuned for more! Thanks for reading!