All three kilos of Benjamin stands shivering in the wind as I take his photo on a cloudy Saturday afternoon. He smells the snacks I'm holding and puts on a brave face and takes what I offer him. It takes him almost thirty seconds to chew through a small piece of dog cookie then he looks up for more.
Someone left Benjamin in a park. They left his name tag on his collar but scratched out the phone number where I guess once upon a time they would've taken a call to inform them their dog was found. These days, not so much apparently.
Benjamin has been transferred to Speaking of Dogs Rescue so if you're interested in adopting him, you can get in touch with them through their website: Speaking of Dogs.
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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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Dear little soul - he is safe now....
He looks like a Brussels Griffon. They are so sweet. My Brussels is a rescue too. Hope he finds someone to love him.
So sweet, so vulnerable, all alone abandoned by someone he probably loved. I hope some one mends his broken heart with a home he never has to leave.
Benjamin and freebie look alike could they have been so cruelly abandoned by the same person?
Poor little guy my heart just breaks. I have a good feeling that he will be adopted and loved, cared for, and spoiled with lots of belly rubs. He is so sweet and cute. May God bless you and keep you safe little guy.
if he comes up for adoption we would love to give him a home...my son has been after me to get him a little doggy such as this and we would give him a forever home....thanks
we are on our way for you Benjamin.... Hold tight!! We have started making phone calls and sending emails to find you and adopt you xoxo