Adopt-a-Shelter-Dog month!

Thank you USA for providing the greater percentage of my Blog Followers and, probably not surprisingly therefore, the greater percentage of my book sales. I thought it would be an appropriate reciprocal gesture to promote your (ASPCA) Adopt-a Shelter-Dog month!

The ASPCA have designated October as Adopt-a-Shelter-Dog month which compliments the “Adopt don’t shop” movement very nicely, and no doubt explains the increase in dog adoption related Posts here in the Blogiverse.

Whereas many will argue in favor of buying a dog from a breeder, there are so many benefits to at least checking out your local shelter before making any decision.  One must always consider that a dog in a shelter  is not there by choice, and would no doubt really love all the comforts of a real home just as you and I do.

Adopting from a shelter serves a double benefit because it is not only giving a dog a second chance at life, but you will also free up space for another unfortunate dog.

Below is a pic of Ray, proudly promoting the Oakville & Milton Humane Society. They were the ones that rescued him from a life of scavenging (as a stray) and put a lot of time and effort into making him suitable for adoption. Ray came to live with us in March 2013.

Shelter dogs are often considered “less than ideal” simply because they will need training. All dogs, regardless of their age, or their background, will need training if you want an enjoyable and rewarding relationship with them. Training, which is essentially teaching you and your dog how to successfully interact with each other, not only provides a wonderful opportunity for bonding, but can make life in general so much easier in the future.

Below is a 2016 pic of Ray and I reviewing the first copy of the book about the first 18 months of us living together. (“Who Said I was up for Adoption?” – click book cover over to right for more info)

If you have any thoughts whatsoever towards giving an unfortunate dog a second chance at a warm and loving life, then go and introduce yourself to your local shelter. You can tell them that Ray sent you and, if they ask who Ray is… he is 80lbs of rescued German Shepherd/Rottweiler who has lived here for 4-1/2 years now. While he has presented his challenges (All dogs will. They are no different from children), he is a very special and a precious addition to our family.

Remember that October is the ASPCA’s Adopt-a-Shelter-Dog month  and, of course, “Adopt-don’t-Shop.”

43 thoughts on “Adopt-a-Shelter-Dog month!”

  1. Hello ,

    I saw your tweet about animals and thought I will check your website. I like it!

    I love pets! I have two beautiful thai cats called Tammy(female) and Yommo(male).
    Yommo is 1 year older than Tommy. He acts like a bigger brother for her. 🙂
    I have even created an Instagram account for them ( https://www.instagram.com/tayo_home/ ) and probably soon they will have more followers than me (kinda funny).

    I have subscribed to your newsletter. 🙂

    Keep up the good work on your blog.

    Regards
    Wiki

    Liked by 1 person

  5. A magnificent post! Adopting a dog is a wonderful way to find a furry companion. My oldest daughter, Heidi, adopted a dog while living in Maine. She soon realized that she needed professional help with training as Harley had many issues. The training was a blessing for both of them and it is an ongoing process. I know Heidi would recommend adopting to anyone looking for a pet and advise training too. Beautiful photos of Ray and you!

    Liked by 1 person

  6. Talk about timely!! Because if any of your readers are within reach of Grants Pass in Southern Oregon then please note that two local rescue centers had special adopt-a-pet days yesterday (Saturday).

    http://roguevalleyhumanesociety.org/adoptions/

    and

    https://www.jocoshelter.com/adoptions

    This second one is a high-kill unit; I’m afraid to say.

    I’m sure many of the animals are still available and if there is any way we can help (we live in Merlin, OR 97532) then please let us know.

    Liked by 1 person

  7. When I adopted Morgan (cat) there was what looked like a purebred boxer wondering around. He was wonderful, friendly and the office dog at the shelter. The shelters get purebreds periodically (our shelter tries to get them to breed specific rescue groups if they can) and you can often find exactly what you are looking for there. BTW Morgan looks exactly like a purebred Russian blue cat. No papers but she would just chew them up anyway! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    • That’s an important point isn’t it Kate. Who knows what ends up at a shelter. We were surprised when we received Ray’s DNA results because we were expecting a variety of breeds to be represented… but there were only two. It would suggest to me that perhaps the German Shepherd/Rottweiler mix was a deliberate act on somebody’s part.

      Liked by 1 person

  8. Shelter dogs (and mutts) have time and time again been proven healthier than purebreds and dogs bought from breeders. 😊

    As far as training, most shelters socialize the animals they take in. They will often potty train them, teach them how to walk on a lead, and how to trust humans.

    And like you said, when you save a shelter dog, you’re saving two: the one you take home, and the one who takes his place.

    We’re cat people at ACPR, but the basic principle is the same.

    Liked by 2 people

  9. Thank you for this post. I want to encourage your readers to definitely adopt and not shop! Breeders only exist because people keep coming. Most often breeders are not properly caring for the animals and see them only as a money-maker. All the while there are many, many pets waiting for a home in a shelter and if they do not get one, they may be put down, simply becasue no-one adopted them. Yes, these animals may not be perfect, but is there any human beings that are?

    Liked by 1 person

    • There certainly are a lot of idiots out there but, in defense of some of them, they just do not know any different which is why I welcome the opportunities to tell Ray’s story. I have met people who believe that dogs should come ready trained; that one simply gives the dog to a trainer and it should come back “ready to go”; that their barking dog is… well that’s just the way it is. It always barks; that when their dog destroyed the sofa and chewed the door, it was just being mischievous and punished accordingly; that the dog’s crate is where it is sent when “bad”, and then they wonder why it is difficult to get it into its crate voluntarily! We really do need to spread as much education in this area as we possibly can. The dogs deserve it. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  11. We had been searching for more than a year, and about to give up. I was on my way to negotiate for a puppy at a local pet shop, when I got the notion to check out the local shelter on my way to make the purchase. That’s where we found him, a 3 year old terrier mix that had been received the night before. Sometimes, we are just meant to find each other. 🐶

    Liked by 1 person

  12. A worthy post Colin. Here in the UK we have dog shelters and rescue centres too. You are so right, the dogs aren’t there by choice, and training doesn’t come with a piece a paper. Even if a dog is trained, it still has to adapt to the routine of the new family, as do the family! It makes me cross when people don’t understand that it doesn’t simply happen and you have to work at it! My sister has had rescue dogs, and many of our friends too. They are great companions, and give so much back.
    Having had experience with dog breeders only in it for the money, I feel for the dogs. But then, I prefer them to people sometimes anyway!

    Liked by 1 person

  13. Reblogged this on Callie's Wag and commented:
    It is adopt a Shelter Dog Month! Remember those loving dogs who are waiting for their forever homes ❤️. Ray is one of the best examples of a magical, loving shelter dog. While his owner started out never having had a dog before, he and Ray learned together, eventually supplying enough education and anecdotes for Colin to write a book.

    Liked by 2 people

  14. Love this of course, as both a rescuer and a Ray lover! Did you see this news on California? http://www.ocregister.com/2017/10/13/gov-brown-signs-pet-rescue-act-mandating-rescue-pets-at-retail-shops-in-california/
    Gov Brown signed an act requiring pet stores to sell shelter pets. Guess what the AKC is worried about, “Sheila Goffe, American Kennel Club vice president of government relations, said the law “fails to distinguish between professional breeders and pet profiteers.”

    However, there is no law against buying from private breeders! Hmmm….. so Sheila you are worried about protecting those who sell animals to pet stores? We know where they come from – just look at Callie.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Hi Molly – I guess she is just doing her job and trying to protect the interests of all the breeders, but I find it very disappointing that the interests of the breeding profession are placed higher in importance than the interests of the dogs!
      Considering the many health issues that have been attributed to breeders as a result of attempts to “redesign” breeds. I have no time for any of them simply because I have no way of distinguishing the corrupt, unethical, irresponsible, profiteering ones from the rest.
      At least with a shelter dog, you know that an adoption will support the shelter operations. Our local shelter also neuters/spays all animals there in an effort to control populations, and has professional trainers to work with the dogs, so some costs inherent with adoptions have already been taken care of. We have been really impressed with not only their level of concern regarding their dogs, but also how cooperative and supportive they have been since Ray’s adoption. If we are ever in the “market” for another dog, I would go no further than our shelter and, if they had limited choices at that time. I would simply wait.
      Adopt-a-Shelter-Dog? Absolutely!

      Like

    • Ray is so precious now. I just wish that those people who get a dog (from wherever), and start getting frustrated with it after a few weeks, could meet Ray. If they could only see what a year or two of professional guidance, TLC and patience can do! 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

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