tails.

Shelter dogs


There is a new commercial by pedigree about shelter dogs.  It is one of those commercials that on any given day can make me tear up.  Never mind that I find David Duchovny's voice soothing, the message is strong and true.

I decided to adopt a dog a few weeks after my apartment got broken into.  The dark nights left me sleepless while I laid in my bed wondering if the bastards who stole my TV, DVD player, IPod player, and camera would come back when they realized that the stuff they left behind was an elusive Wii , a brand new lap top (they may have skipped my dell because it was girly and bright pink), and a rack of DVDs.    I felt like a dog might make me feel a little less alone and maybe provide me some protection.  I started the search for my dog using shelter sites and petfinder.com.  One Thursday afternoon I was perusing and found her.  I immediately fell in love.  This beagle/american bulldog mix located in Nebraska, Indiana spoke to me and said "I will protect you and love you and be your best friend in the whole world."  I got the directions and drove down to Nebraska Friday evening and adopted her on the spot.  The rest is history.

Since then, Peyton has been with me through a break up, a move, a job loss, and quite a few parties.   She has met and approved of all my friends--except Burger King's THE KING.  She basically acts as my mom, my sister, my best friend, and my child.  We get in fights daily, we make up daily,we play, we snuggle, we survive.  And most of all, I am never alone when she is around. 

This is the stage in life when my generation decides to get a pet.  We are out of school, on our own, and craving the love we had from our childhood pets.  I know many people who have adopted a dog recently.  Some go through shelters, some breeders, some have picked up strays on the side of the road.  All of which are acceptable means to find YOUR dog.  However, I secretly  (well not that secretly) feel like those people who choose to get their dog from a breeder are missing out.  Of course I understand the need to spend hundreds of dollars on a pure bred dog if your hobby is to show dogs; however, if all you intend on doing is cutting off your pure bred's balls and letting him fill the role of friend/sibling/child/pet then what was wrong with the pure bred dog that was sitting in the humane society waiting for someone to love him and take him home?  He may be older, or a little rough around the edges but he has tails to tell.  He has prevailed.  He was dealt a bad hand and responded with courage.  Or what about the that mix breed dog?  Does the fact that he comes from a mixed family OFFEND?  I hope not because mixed breed dogs are unique and awesome and anyone should feel privileged to be loved by one of them.

I do notice a pure bred dog owner's nose go up when they talk about their blue blooded dog and how much they were willing to pay for it.  But I hope they are FULLY aware of my nose going up when I talk about my MUTT and how I adopted her for $50.  (Yes, I am am saying I am a shelter dog snob)

Don't pity a shelter dog,  Adopt one.