Adopting a Dog? Think Pound Puppies!!!

I made a list today of all the dogs I have had in my life, both as a kid and as a married woman. It took me awhile to think back but I came up with thirteen! Of those dogs, 3 came from regular breeders, 1 came from a litter for free, 4 came from friends or relatives or othersas grown dogs, and the remaining 5 came from shelters. And, when I look back and remember, the ones with the best personalities were a rescue of sorts. Mostly mutts and mostly unwanted for some reason.
Our latest addition to our family is a four year old St. Bernard. I was skimming the available pets at shelters online just for the heck of it and I saw the listing for him. This is what it said:
Isn't there someone special out there who can give me a second chance? My name is Ted and I'm a jumbo sized Saint Bernard, about 4 years old. I've had a hard life and wasn't around people when I was very young so it will take a special kind of person to show me how to behave so I can be happy. I have long hair and I'm used to being outside and I wouldn't like a small place like an apartment to live. But mostly I need a patient person with special skills to work with me because I try to be dominant with people. With my large size I can be intimidating. The people at the shelter have contacted Saint Bernard rescues but no one has gee to get me. Do you know anyone who can give me another chance at a happy life?
These pics acgepanied the ad:


Now is that a cute face or what? I emailed the info to my husband and he, being as much of a sap as I am, told me to go ahead and call about him. We had had another St. Bernard years ago who was two years old when we got him from the pound the day before he was to be put down. We had him until he was 12 and he was the best dog we ever have had. So, reading this ad and seeing that face - well, it wasn't real difficult for us to decide to check out this dog.
When I called the shelter, however, it didn't sound real good. The lady there said he grabbed onto people's arms when they had a treat, barked and growled and, in general, wasn't terribly friendly. She said many others had gee out to see him but no one was willing to adopt him. He had been kept in a cage for three years and spent another year at the shelter. Still, we aren't ones to be easily put off so we made an appointment and went to see this big dog.
When we got there, Shelly, the person in charge of the shelter, put him in a large pen. There he stood barking and growling at us just as ferociously as he could. My husband asked to go in the cage and all he did was put his arm around the dog's head twice and told him no. Within minutes he was settled down and following my husband around like old buddies. We brought him home the next day.
I am not saying he hasn't been some trouble. He growled at me everytime I walked by his cage the first two weeks. He immediately loved my husband and older son but he is still growling at my two younger boys. It takes time when a dog hasn't been socialized properly. However, in the month we have had him he has learned to enjoy petting, he now kisses us, and he has figured out that being in the house is really fun! We know we have months ahead of usworking with him to get him to trust people and not expect that they are all enemies. Patience is called for and lots of it. Yet, in the end, this dog will be a wonderful family pet.
Not all dogs at shelters are this screwed up. We have had our share and they have always turned out to be wonderful family pets. Cats, too. We had one wander in at about four months of age who would not gee anywhere near people. I sat on our deck for days putting food closer and closer slowly taming him. Now he is the biggest baby of the bunch!
Pets that have been abandoned and rescued seem to understand that they are being given a second chance. They show their gratitude with their love and loyalty. So, if you are thinking of getting a pet, please consider looking at a shelter. You can find them online showing photos and stories. The shelter where we got Teddie has had people gee from all over wanting a particular animal or breed. There are also rescue societies for many full-blood breeds, too. The majority are grown animals. My point is not to be afraid to bring one of them home thinking they are set in their ways. The hype about getting a very tiny puppy or kitten because they begee better pets is just so much hogwash. What matters is what they learn once they are in your home. If they are yelled at or beaten on, they will be angry and upset. If they are loved and talked to softly and shown kindness they will respond in kind.
Every day so many animals are put down. Think about saving at least one if you are thinking of adding a pet to your family.
UPDATE: Ted will be the featured pet on the holiday newsletter for the shelter as a success story. He has gee a LONG way. He had heartworm which required 3 treatments that were very hard on him. He was so thin but now has recovered and is slowly putting on weight. He has a favorite squeaky bone and he LOVES to run around the yard and chase it. He has decided he really likes being a "house dog" and gees running to gee inside. He sleeps in our bedroom and he absolutely loves to get on the bed and get cuddled. It took him awhile to relax and trust but now he falls asleep cuddled to us. He is just so sweet. We are very happy we adopted him and so is he!

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