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A request
The reason for this blog is to help get specific dogs adopted from TAS but equally important is to try to normalize the idea of shelter dogs being just as good and just as desirable as any other dogs including those which are regularly merchandised by backyard breeders, puppy millers and those few remaining pet store owners who still feel a need to sell live animals. The single greatest stigma shelter animals still face is the belief that shelter animals are substandard animals. Anyone who has had enough experience with shelter animals knows this is untrue but the general public hasn't had the same experiences you've had. They see a nice dog photo in a glossy magazine and too many of them would never think of associating that dog with a dog from a shelter. After all, no one abandons perfectly good dogs, right? Unfortunately, as we all know, perfectly good dogs are abandoned all the time.
The public still too often associates shelter dogs with images of beat up, sick, dirty, severely traumatized animals and while we definitely sometimes see victims such as these, they are certainly not the majority and, regardless, even the most abused animals can very often be saved and made whole again.
Pound Dogs sometimes discusses the sad histories some of the dogs have suffered. For the most part, though, it tries to present the dogs not as victims but as great potential family members. The goal is to raise the profiles of animals in adoption centers so that a potential pet owner sees them as the best choice, not just as the charity choice.
So, here's the favour I'm asking. Whenever you see a dog picture on these pages you think is decent enough, I'd like you to consider sharing it on Facebook or any other social media sites you're using (I know many of you do this already and thank you for that). And when you share it, please mention that the dog in the photo is a shelter dog like so many other shelter dogs waiting for a home. If we can get even five percent of the pet buying public to see shelter dogs differently, to see how beautiful they are and how wonderful they are, and to consider shelter dogs as their first choice for a new family member, we can end the suffering of homeless pets in this country.
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The 'American Eskimo' dog is a sub-breed of German Spitz. It was during WW1 due anyi-German sentiment -- sort of the Freedom Fries of its day. As I recall, it was a guard dog, but, from the look of this one, it has evolved into a fluffy snuggle bunny.
humff, maybe not appreciated on this site, however, my view is that they were breed to wake me up at M/N, 0230, 0445 and 0630 and these are my neighbours dogs. very, very tired today :(
They are intelligent, lively, loyal. They are born watchdogs. So they can be yappy and, if allowed to, over-protective. They can outsmart their owners so it takes experience, in my opinion, to be with some (not all) members of the breed. It depends on their socialization and how bored they are allowed to get. These guys need stimulation!
They are big with puppy farms because they are irresistible as puppies. But too many people buy them and then don't give them the exercise and training they need.
I am on my 6th, a rescue who was crated as a breeding male for the first 5 years of his life. Totally unsocialized. Four years later, we are now in a condo where he is the best behaved dog in the building. He sits, stays, does High Fives for people, rolls over, etc. and has a PERFECT RECALL when off leash. Yes, he barks when people come to the door but, after a sniff or two, he's in people's laps.
I hope this fella finds the right home!