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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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Such a sweet old guy! Hope he finds a loving home soon, sounds as if he deserves a happy retirement after losing his tail and his ability to wag. I'm sure he is clever enough to show his delight in other ways though!
Such a beautiful dog!
I have always loved German Shepherds...they are smart, loyal and just beautiful to look at. Maverick is just a beautiful dog and to think that he doesn't have a family to love him is truly heart breaking. I sincerely hope and pray that handsome Maverick will find someone to love him. He so deserves it!!
So gorgeous. Our 10 yo GSD originally landed at TASNorth en route to us. Pls people consider a senior. You may not have a lifetime with them but you will feel a lifetime and then some of love from their soul. Adopting seniors teaches you about life and love. while heartache exists the moments of happiness, simple pleasures, love and gratitude override that. Both our elderboys left us last year and here we are again with a 13 yo wigglebutt. Our seniors need our help.
Anonymous is so right! I too chose a senior rescue dog and he is adorable and a good choice. He could have been around eight or more years they thought. We have had five wonderful years together so far and hope for many more. Chasing squirrels, barking at passing dogs, snoozing on the bed and eating. Seems the old dogs cherish a good comfy loving home when they are given one and are so happy to be rescued from the despair of being lost or abandoned in old age. Who wouldn't be?
Elke Kennepohl If we weren't so far away (Alberta), we'd be happy to take him. We have a large fully fenced acreage with a couple of horses and dogs. I had to put my best bud (9-yr-old shepherd) down last Nov due to inoperable, aggressive osteosarcoma. He was active, fun-loving, and wanting to play Frisbee right to the end.