URGENT: Help Brenda Find A Home

Brenda the BrindleI always say I'm not going to get attached and I always know I'm lying when I say it. This Saturday I went with our Animal Protection group to Petco to try to find some area dogs a home. Brenda, pictured below, is a one-year-old Shepard mix. VERY gentle and quite the trickster. We had a small box of treats sitting in the middle of the table and we'd s-l-o-w-l-y see this big nose rise up from the side of the table and then - blink! - the box was gone. She loves to be hugged and you would have thought she was in doggy heaven when we threw her a rubber ball that bounced. 

The bad news is that Brenda's time is limited. Very limited. As in, this week limited. The vet where she's at (good GOOD people) tries to keep animals as long as they can. But her time is up. This is one dog that, honestly, if I thought my allergies could take it, I might beg and plead with Blair for us to take home. Unfortunately, I went home in hives after my day at Petco. My dog allergies are significantly worse than my cat allergies.

If you can think of anyone who may be interested in a new best friend for life, please take the time to forward Brenda's picture to them, even if they're in another state. We're happy to arrange a transport. 

And for the love of God, please spay and neuter your pets. 

What treats? I didn't take any treats...

Update on 2010-05-17 12:41 by Dena Harris

I called this morning and spoke with the vet to get a few more details. 

Brenda is 35 lbs and about 1 year old. They've had her for 3 months - she was brought in off the streets by the police department. She gets along well with other animals, dogs and cats. She's a little skittish. If someone quickly raises a hand she cowers as if afraid she might get hit. 

They can't say if she's housebroken or not as they haven't observed her in a home. 

The vet tech I spoke to had this to say, "We LOVE this dog. Please find her a home." 

Photos from Petco Adoption Fair

Once a month, Blair and I volunteer a Saturday afternoon to work the Petco adoption fair on behalf of the Animal Protection Society of Rockingham County. Dogs are pulled from the local Humane Society and we parade them around the Petco on Wendover in Greensboro for 3 hours, hoping the dogs will find their forever homes. We've had success with two dogs, so far. My goal in life is to get Hilton adopted. He's not the cutest dog out there, but he is just a cuddle monster who I know would make someone the best pet. 

Here are a few photos from our day:

Hilton is the blob spread out on his back, begging for a belly rub.

An Amazing Story

I met with a friend yesterday and we got to talking about our pets. She told me the amazing story of how her dog saved her life.

Years ago, my friend had an Irish setter -- not known for being the most vicious of dogs. She was alone in the house one day and a guy came to the front door selling firewood. She opened the front door and was about to open the screen door when her Irish Setter, who had been napping peacefully at the top of the staircase, came charging down the stairs and hurled himself at the screen door. He broke through part of the screen and even broke some of the little glass windows around the door. The dog was snarling, barking, snapping, straining with his full body weight to get at the man.

"I can't open the door," said my friend to the man, as she tried to hold onto the dog's collar. This was not normal behavior for the dog. "I can't hold him back." 

The guy nodded and left. My friend later found out that he went to her neighbor's house up the road, where he proceeded to rape and kill the woman who answered the door. 

It takes my breath away to think about it. That could have been her. That could so easily have been her. Thank God for that dog. And for animal instinct. Animals KNOW. I don't know if they're psychic or if they can smell or sense things that we can't, but they know our hearts and our intentions. Always trust an animal. 

Now... go give your pet a hug. 

Cheers,

Dena

A Happy Ending: Almost Jack Finds His Forever Home

Remember Almost Jack? The starved puppy my friend Dawn found on the side of the road? Almost Jack has been given a second chance at life. Hooray!! Here's Dawn's description of Almost Jack's (now known as Colin Jack) new life:

Almost Jack was adopted by a single mother and her four-year-old daughter who just moved from Greensboro to a place out in the country in Summerfield. The mom has been involved in pulling dogs out of high kill shelters in the past.  Colin will belong to the daughter.  Mom bought the daughter a bunk bed so the little girl can take the top bunk and Colin can have the bottom.  The girl picked a Tinkerbell comforter for him to sleep on, and got him matching collar and lead so he would be color coordinated.  

The mom took in another dog recently that had been pulled and then refused by the rescue group.  I had kept him for a few days while they were moving, and when Roth showed up at her new place he marked several places in her house.  She did not get upset, simply asked me what the best way to curb it was.  I was impressed with that – she understood he was just doing dog things, and that he’d have to be taught.  She called me the next morning and told me that Colin, Roth and her two dogs had all slept in the bed with her and they hadn’t had any trouble at all.  I bet Colin thought that was GREAT!  He’s probably never felt anything that soft before!

Colin’s biggest problem now is that he is going to be REALLY spoiled.  They have invited me to stop by any time and see him.  I told her I really wanted to see what he looked like when he grew up.  She and I have been e-mailing pretty regularly, and looks like we’re going to end up friends, so I should be able to watch him grow up.