Adopt a Rescue

When to get another pet after you've lost one is always a very personal decision. There is no right answer for everyone. After losing Lily, my sweet Collie, I stayed off of the pet sites and ignored rescue emails from well-meaning friends. I just wasn't ready for another dog. And Buster, my Chihuahua/Boston Terrier mix, seemed to be enjoying his status as an only-dog.

Then I happened to open an email from Best Friends Rescue. The group was trying to help Angel Dog Rescue place some dogs from south Georgia. Unfortunately the state has one of the highest euthanasia rates and lowest adoption rates in the country. Rescues in rural areas have an even tougher time getting adopted. When I clicked on the photo in the email, I was staring at the soulful eyes of a Treeing Walker Coon Hound named Bella. She had been fostered for 2 years by an 85-year-old woman who had just lost her husband. Single-handily managing a large property and multiple pets would be overwhelming for anyone -- especially if you were older. She needed to find a permanent home for Miss Bella.

Buster and I drove down to meet Bella to see what we thought. By nature, Coon Hounds can be a handful. After reading online about the breed, I was a little intimidated. But Bella had been fostered for 2 years, so I had a pretty good read on her personality. She didn't fit the Coon Hound mold and was the proverbial couch potato. We packed her up and took her home with us. Bella quickly adapted to her new life and lived up to her coach potato reputation. Within the first week, she had tried out every soft spot in the house, no matter how small. Much to the dismay of the cats, even their wicker bed was fair game, whether she fit in it or not.

Bella turned out to be a gem of a dog. She was house-broken, very sweet, and got along with everyone. Many people ignore rescues in favor a cute puppies. They forget it takes a lot of work to train them to become well-behaved dogs. Rescues may have bad habits that need correcting too, but at least you know what you are dealing with if they have been in foster care for any length of time. A vet can give you a list of rescue groups in your area, many which are breed-specific. And speaking of breeds, be sure to look for traits that suit your lifestyle. If you are a high energy, active person, you may be happy with a dog that needs a lot of exercise and is a part of your outdoor activities. Some people (like me), would be worn out just thinking about it. Animal Planet has a great interactive tool that helps match your lifestyle with the traits of different breeds to make sure that you AND the dog are happy with each other.