Anyone adopt a rescue pet?

[arminnie]

Isn't my Cody beautiful? I got him at the Cocker Spaniel Rescue of Northern California when he was a year old.

He had been traded for drugs (and was probably stolen) and then given to the guy's grandparents who lived in a trailer park that did not allow dogs.

He was really fat, but was not socialized at all. He did not know what a ball or a toy was. The first time that I gave him a Milkbone he spit it out - this from a dog that now comes and wakes me up to go get him a "treatie".

It took a long time to housebreak him. I had a dog door and once I saw him go put his head and front legs out and urinate. OK maybe not the smartest dog but definitely the sweetest.

My previous cocker I got from the owners of the mother dog. The father was only a year old and not too long after he was bred he developed very aggressive behaviour. Two of the dogs in the little had to be destroyed they were so vicious. Mine had a mean streak when I was not around so I NEVER let him near children or others when not accompanied by me.

 

[Mom-to-3]

For anyone who is interested in a rescue sweetie, www.petfinder.com has a search area on the left side of their page. In addition to dogs and cats, you can find rabbits, horses, reptiles, and more!

I am a foster mom for www.rescueagolden.org and have taken care of 8 golden retrievers in the past 1.5 years. We kept #7.

Please consider a rescue animal before you go to a breeder (and never buy from a pet store).

 

[phillybeth]

Originally posted by RickinNYC
And the rest is history. Bill (aka the Prince of Darkness), a black lab and corgi mix (or vietnamese pot belly pig, not sure which), has been a permanent fixture in our home. He's now 8 years old, and has taken over the apartment. He has a full belly, no more exposed ribs. He used to be terrified of belts but now just sniffs them out of boredom. He used to just sit at the entrance to our apartment, refusing to venture beyond the confines of the foyer. Now he runs like a bat out of hell through the joint, tossing his toys in his wake. He was afraid to be touched, now he constantly nudges our hand for a scratch. He used to sit across the room and stare, now he naps in our lap. He used to rip into our books and videos when he was alone. Now he sleeps on the rug, right smack dab in what we call "Bill's sunbeam." He used to bump his head against the bathroom door when it was time to go to sleep, now he demands to be let up on our bed for his nightly cuddle and scratch before he settles on his own warm bed.

It's a wonderful feeling, isn't it, to open your heart to a terrified thing and help it blossom. I have seen so many dogs like this, so many it breaks my heart, go on to wonderful lives. Thank you Rick and Joe, and to all adoptive families of rescued pets.

 

[Robinrs]

I got my Maximillian Miracle cat from the Humane Society. He was brought in with several injuries and was very shy and cowering. I came in to look at the kittens but this 2yo cat stole my heart with his humble eyes. He had a look on his face that said "you don't want me either, do you?"

The worker told me that the older cats are rarely adopted and it was a shame because this one was an angel.

Well, that was 2 years ago and he is the ANGEL she said he was. I enjoy him so much. Of all my 4 cats he is the sweetest, kindest and the most grateful for having a home. He gets along with everyone and I really feel that everyday he thanks me for "wanting him".

God bless all of you who rescue furbabies!

 

[ZebraStripes]

I got my 2 house rabbits from a rescue/foster. I wish I could get more, but my DH said "no way"!

 

[Serena]

When I was a kid I got my first dog from a carnival. There was a young man that worked there and had her and didn't want her. Somehow my aunt ended up with her. Well, for the rest of the two week camping vacation, the dog wouldn't let me out of her sight. My mom got talked into letting me have her. We called her Crickett, because of the way she barked.

Maxie we got from the Humane Society. She was a few months old, was calm and loved petted. She was very gentle with Kelsea and we fell in love with her. Kelsea was two and asleep in the stroller the first time they met.

 

[eeyore74]

Snow is beautiful! So are all the other ones pictured.

Duncan is a rescue dog. He had only been in his foster home for less than a week, so she didn't know much about him. I always go to the humane society or a rescue shelter. My last cocker, I took from the owner. Poor thing was starved, for both food and attention.

My complaint with this rescue place was they said he had all his shots and was perfectly healthy. They never sent his records so we had no proof so he had to get all his shots again. He's got a terrible skin condition, bad ears, and it looks like he might have been hit by a car at one time. His left hip is really out of place. But he's such a good dog and very sociable, very active.

 

[pw2pp]

We got "Cali" (the kitty in my signature pic) from an Animal Rescue. They had found her under a wood pile. She has no tail. They don't know if it came off somehow or if she was born that way. We love her dearly.

 

[arminnie]

Originally posted by Mom-to-3
Please consider a rescue animal before you go to a breeder (and never buy from a pet store).

Oh how I second that. There are wonderful dogs out there who need a home!! Lot of pure bred dogs too if that's what you think you have to have.

 

[chell]

Snow looks like a wonderful dog. Beautiful too!

My dog came from the animal shelter and apparently had been abused too. You could see all her ribs when we got her. Now she is just the right weight. I've had her just over a year now and she finally will play with toys. But I have to make her think they are mine first.

My kitty was dropped off somewhere around here and I found her wondering around. She had an injured leg and had not eaten in a while. They are both my babies now.

 

[christineann]

We have always gotten our dogs from the shelter or have found them on the street or even in a dumpster. We lost our black mix Jake to cancer in January, and after checking with several animal shelters in SC, we found some lab mixes at a country shelter about 1 1/2 hours away. We got a golden retriever mix (Gabe) and a black lab mix (Rasta). A friend of my sister's offered me two black lab pups with papers for whatever I was paying the shelter - my sis told her friend that she knew I would rather get them from a shelter. I have found that with a mutt I get the best of whatever breeds are in their makeup.

 

[winniedapooh]

Yep we got Miss Minnie, Minnie for short, about a month ago from a no kill shelter. She is a beautiful orange long haired catten that is still a kitten almost a cat! She is spoiled already!

 

[dizneykid]

October, 2003 we adopted a rat terrier named Remington from Rat Bone Rescues and we love him so much.

His story was that he was with a couple who kept him in a crate all day while they were at work (approx. 12 hours). And then didn't have much time for him. He is 15 months old and one of the most perfect rat terriers I have ever seen. He even has papers (not that we care). He is still a little hyper and we are taking time training him. He has turned out to be such a loving dog. He loves to give kisses and hugs. And he loves messages, he is so cute when he wakes up in the morning and comes to get his morning "rubs". We already had another rat terrier named Dixie and now she has a brother. She loves him as much as we do. They play all day and we let them have the run of the house. We could never put him back in the crate all day.

There are sometimes I look at him and I get so teary eyed thinking that now he has a forever home and a very loving one, and a sister too. He just seems so happy all the time. We are truely blessed to have him (and Dixie too).

I just want to say you "ALL" are very special people. God bless all of you.

 

[ByTheSea]

We are thrilled with Snow and if I was to ever get another pet, I would go the same route. Not only are you saving the pet you adopt, the adoption fee goes towards rescuing additional dogs or cats, or paying for their medical, etc.

But it's also very practical and can be very cost effective. Our "donation" for adopting her ($250) is a tax deductible charitable contribution to a registered non-profit organization. Our dog just got all her annual vaccines and is already fixed. We were told when we bring her to the Vet to mention she was a rescue and we will probably get a discount. She had an ear infection just before she was put up for adoption and we brought her to our vet for a physical and follow up and our vet charged us NOTHING for a complete physical for a rescued pet. Plus she's already housebroken and that has it's pluses.

We had planned on getting a puppy for our DS for several months, so we had already purchased some puppy supplies, collar, a few puppy specific toys that we donated to Snow's "foster mom" when we picked her up.

If anyone in the MN area is looking for a pet I highly recommend this group, they were great people to work with

http://www.homewardboundrescue.com/index.html

 

[mommytotwo]

I have never adopted from a rescue area, but found out that the kitten that we bought from the pet store was being abused by the previous owner's daughter. She didn't know how to handle the kitten and kept throwing her around.
Pets like this need more attention and they need to know that they are safe with you and will not be harmed.
By adopting one of these animals, you know that you had done something good for them.

 

[Jockaroo]

I'm so glad Snow found a forever home!

We have a wonderful rescue dog. Tipper was adopted from the SPCA. My husband started talking about getting a second Scottie as a playmate for our adult male Scot. I was worried that a puppy would bother Mac so we decided on adoption/rescue. We searched and found our little girl Scottie on petfinder.org--it is a great site. We did want a specific breed--we love Scottish Terriers.

Tipper's story is different from many of the rescues mentioned here. Tipper was at a wonderful kennel facility--these folks ran SPCA--so she was well-cared for. Tipper was adored and loved by her first owner. Unfortunately, the owner got sick and passed away. Tipper was kenneled during the illness and settling the estate--about 5 months. Although loved by her first owner, Tipper was very nervous and shy--scared of everything! And she grieved for her owner. But I am very grateful that my girl knew love in her life.

Fast forward 2 1/2 years....Tipper is a happy, fiesty Scottie. Yes, she is still clingy and timid. Hates strangers. Barks at cats and doorbells. Loves to be cuddled. Sleeps nestled next to me each night. She is my princess. Except for some very minor issues, she and Mac have become very good friends. There is a 2 year age difference, so I think this helps.

The warm fuzzies I feel when I look at her are impossible to explain. I love Mac and the puppy time I had with him and would never trade it. But I know I've done something good giving Tipper a home. I would not hesitate to open my home and heart to another rescue. For anyone considering adding a pet to the family, please check into rescue/adoption. And remember to make provisions for your pets in your wills.

-Jockaroo

 

[phillybeth]

Yes, not all rescued dogs are abused or neglected. We get plenty of dogs because elderly owners have passed away. We even get dogs from owners who's circumstances have changed (job, marital status etc) and do the right thing for the dog. They are the ones where you wish you could find some way for them to keep their furry friend. We get puppies because they were a gift, or someone didn't look past the cute puppy fluff to see the dog it would become.
But watch out! I adopted one dog, then another so the first wouldn't be lonely. Now I'm president of a breed rescue and I've fostered over 12 dogs! Rescue can be addictive!

 

[Pugdog007]

I have 4 pugs, all from Alabama Pug Rescue & Adoption:

www.alabamapugrescue.org

where I'm a volunteer. Rescues make the best pets!!!

 

[Shel]

We have a black lab/Belgian shepherd that is a rescue dog - she's the sweetest dog & loves her new forever family. Over the weekend I happened to be surfing & stopped by www.petfinder.com and did a search on my zip code & found a black puppy available 10 minutes from our house! We drove over to meet her & are bringing her home on Friday. I'd like to give her a "Pirates" name...any suggestions? She's allegedly part black lab & part Newfoundland.

 

[cuterlt]

Our two babies are pound kitties. The first one we got (Snotnose) when we were newly living together and DH was working graveyard shift and I needed a companion at night. Snotnose looked pregnant and kept grabbing at me as I walked by her cage. I couldn't resist her. She meowed and rubbed up against the cage. I was afraid they would euthanize her if she wasn't adopted and DH and I decided that we could take a cat who had babies. Well, when we took her to the vet, he discovered that she'd already had the kittens.... She was pretty young, and sweet, and except for the pound flu she came home with (hence the name snotnose), has been a very healthy, wonderful cat. Several months after we got snotnose, DH decided Snotnose needed a friend, especially since he had gotten a new job, working days, so the cats would be home alone all day. He went to the pound on his own and found a kitten who was just a delight. Pretty grey girl who hopped around and wasn't afraid of anything!! She would go up to Snotnose and snotnose would hiss, and she wouldn't back off! Anyway, bratface (for her cute, impish face) has been fun too. As she's gotten older, she has became more affectionate.
Our family has always had animals, either from a pound, or that "followed" one of the kids home. I have 4 sisters and a brother so there was always some animal that "followed" one of us home....
I always told DH that when we get a bigger house, we will adopt dozens more cats. He wants to adopt a dog.... We'll just have to wait and see!