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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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I think we may have been the couple that Care Bear met on Saturday, and she is a truly lovely dog. As loyal followers of this site, we know that a dog is a commitment for life - she was the first dog that we'd met, and we weren't sure if she was the right dog for us, right now. This is in no way a reflection on her personality (see above re: truly lovely), and I hope it doesn't deter anyone from going down to meet her.
To anyone who does have the opportunity to meet Care Bear: for the first few minutes, it's all about whatever stuffed toy is in the room. However, give it a little more time and you can get a serious game of fetch going - she also knows sit and lay down. As mentioned above, she seems to be food motivated, so I'm sure other tricks would come quickly. (We didn't think about bringing treats, but the very nice staff at TAS had some that they were willing to share.)
Thanks much for the Care Bear review. I hope you find the one you're looking for. Cheers.