Really been looking forward to this one. From the owner of Bella:
I'm in love and I have all of you to thank for such an amazing companion.
I can't explain how overjoyed I am. I'm at a point in my life where I wanted a dog, but didn't know if I would have the time to train a puppy and be there every hour to let it out.
Then I meet Bella. She sits, lays down, gives a paw all on command, takes treats gently and she doesn't bark! She can sleep in her crate with the door open at night and she doesn't get into trouble. When I'm in the kitchen eating or cooking, she doesn't beg which is incredible.
Only downside thus far has been going for walks. At first she was in charge, but I was recommended to use a gentle leader which has already started to kick the pulling habit. She's also had a tough time around other dogs so what I've started to do is meet up with the couple and dog that I used to watch, and we walk side by side with the leashes on so she can get used to being in the presence of other dogs... This is a work in progress but she's still young - Each day it gets better.
Thanks again for all the hard work you've put into Bella, I'm truly appreciative to have her.
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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 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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Search this blog
Toronto area animal shelters
TAS South on facebook
My other blogs
Animal rescue blogs
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What's That?5 years ago
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Late Night Musings: Clearing the Shelters5 years ago
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Simon Loves the Snow!7 years ago
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So happy for you and Bella! Thrilled she found such a wonderful forever home.
wonderful! wonderful! Such a beautiful dog and she sounds so well behaved. Thank you to the compassionate owner for the update. Nice to know Bella has finally found a loving home! Those walks with a wise dog friend must be reassuring for her. The third photo with the adoring eyes and the fuzzy sign of a tail wag is fantastic. Looks as if she is in love too.
So very happy for you and Bella!! Wishing you both a long healthy life together! :D
Lovely doggie :)
How wonderful of people to send in these updates - it warms the heart and, if you know the dog in question, makes you feel even more appreciative of the incredible work the TAS people do. They didn't give up on Bella, and this lovely person is following that up. Now a "troubled" dog can have a happy life! Congratulations to everyone involved.
Tears of joy here!! I never even met Bella, but followed her story through Fred's blog, and hoped so much that she would be adopted by a wonderful, caring, patient person... and it seems that she has been! Thank you so much TAS for giving Bella every chance to find her happily ever after, and thank you to this wonderful person who has made Bella a part of their family. I can't have a dog at present, but have had the good fortune to have had three beautiful dog companions in my life's journey. Two of them were dogs that others did not want, had mistreated, neglected and failed to train or socialize. With time, love and patience they became everything they were meant to be and more, just as Bella will be.
She's so beautiful, as her name suggests. Glad you are a happy family.