In Appreciation of Animal Shelters

I have always relied on them when I wanted to adopt a pet.

Over the years, I would head to these pet adoption centers when I was in need of another pet to fill my life with love. When I lived in Toronto, I would visit them regularly, usually on a Sunday afternoon.

Animal shelters provide a wonderful service. They are a blessing to rescued animals and people alike.

Where would all those homeless animals be without the shelter centers to give them a temporary home.

You will be saving a lovely animal's life.

And the bonus is that the animal shelter or rescue worker has the best interests of you and the animals at heart. They are not money driven. Yes, they do charge a fee, but the money goes to the upkeep and care of the animals. It does not pay huge salaries.

My beloved Rosie and her brother Jack, were two mixed breed dogs who found me at one of the no kill animal shelters in my neighborhood. Here they are.

Rosie and Jack Two Mixed Breed Puppies

I had been living without a dog for six years. My old dog had died at the very ripe old age of twenty-two. My heart was broken. Of course I still had my two Siamese cats, beloved both of them, and rescued animals too but, I ask you...what is life without a dog?

I had been visiting the local shelters off and on for the last six years. However, I had not been chosen by my perfect dog yet. I guess, I really just wasn't ready.

Let me make one thing clear. I was not looking for a puppy. There are many perfectly lovely animals ( who were once puppies themselves ) waiting eagerly for 'forever homes'. That's what I was looking for...a mature dog that was in need of a good home.

So, on a Sunday afternoon when I wasn't busy, I decided to visit one of the animal shelters located close to my home. They had some lovely dogs, and the usual assortment of adorable puppies playing and wrestling with each other... but nobody wanted me!

I decided to take one last look. Right at the very back of the room was a crate containing the most pathetic looking puppy I had ever seen.

She was only about eight weeks of age. Her little face was completely without fur. Her eyes were stuck shut and her face was blown up like a beach ball. Her little head was double the size it should have been.

What the heck is wrong with this puppy, I asked?

She has a serious infection, I was told. She's being treated, and is not available for pet adoption.

The puppy hearing voices, woke up and made her way to the front of the crate. She started to squeak and pant, and put her little paws up on the front of the crate. " Don't forget about me. I can't see you, but I can hear you ! "... she seemed to be saying.

The attendant had told me she wasn't available for pet adoption but I asked anyway. " Well you won't be able to get your money back if she dies ", he said... " and she won't be able to go home with you, for at least another couple of weeks because she's still being treated ", he added.

Anyway she had chosen me, this very sick puppy. Remember that I had been looking for a nice adult dog. But I paid my money. She was mine, and I was hers.

For the next two weeks, I visited the rescue shelter everyday. I named my new puppy Rosie. We got to know each other a little bit in that time...and she recovered. I brought her home.

Rosie was doing well and so one day, I decided to take her back the animal shelter to show them how well she was doing. Everyone there was thrilled to see that she had recovered so well.

The staff at the centre was so happy in fact, that I was told that her brother, who had previously been adopted, was back at the rescue center. You guessed it. I left that day with another puppy...Jack!

So here I was now with two puppies. I had only wanted one quiet adult dog. Sometimes life has a way of playing jokes on you! Anyone who has ever owned a puppy or two knows what I mean. Sometimes you don't think you're going to live through it!

During this time I broke my foot. So picture this...it was winter ( this is Canada, don't forget), and I'm up to my knees in snow, trying to train two delinquent puppies to do their business outside. NOT FUN!

Anyway, spring came and time passed.

So why am I telling you this story ?

Because Pet Adoption is One of Life's True Rewards

Read about Kathy Terpstra's own fundraising for charity challenge in support of the Loyalist Humane Society here in Prince Edward County. Her $30,000 fundraising project is called For the Love of Animals.

Volunteers are always needed for jobs such as...

• feeding and caring for the animals
• looking for foster homes
• fundraising
• rescuing animals from dangerous, cruel and life threatening situations

...and more.

If you have spare time, consider volunteering at one of your local animal shelters. They need your help! Here is a picture of our four dogs at the time. Jack and Rosie, Maggie and Tuxedo. Each one a rescued animal.

Rosie and Maggie are both gone now over The Rainbow Bridge

We still have Jack our lovely soft and shy mixed breed dog, and Tuxedo our Pomeranian.

Now we have Pager our English Springer Spaniel, who came to us via Trish, who got him at the local animal shelter in Napanee.

Most recently Teddy, our Chocolate Labradoodle.

Teddy came to us via a responsible breeder who was not able to sell him due to a serious health problem. Rather than put him down, she chose to re home him to us, because that's what we do. We solve dog health problems.

For me personally, I think that rescue dogs make the best companions. Somehow it seems to me, that they just know they have been saved, and are eternally grateful for that.

I guess that's where the saying, Man's Best Friend comes from.

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