soapbox
As long as I've had Olive, I've had friends wax about their desire to have a dog.
When I first got her, I was pretty encouraging to folks. After a while though, I became extremely sober about folks jumping on the bandwagon. I felt awful whenever I had to leave Olive on her own at home. Alone while I was at work, stuck at home if I had a rehearsal or a show or just plans with friends. I had her with me as much as possible the rest of the time. As anyone in WNEP would tell you, she was a staple at the theater and meetings and shows (for which I thank everyone involved for putting up with all those years.)
I grew up with two dogs and for a long time I considered getting a second dog. I knew that another dog would be great for Olive's need to socialize...but everything I read about Jack Russells made me hesitate in bringing another dog on board. Also, I was concerned about the cost, to be honest. Time passed and Olive (now 9) is pretty set in her ways and unabashedly territorial. While she gets along with most other pooches, the window of bringing another one into the household has long since closed.
Recently, a friend talked about adopting a dog. During the period when Olive was missing, I resolved to adopt a dog from Animal Control after some time had passed. Looking at those poor animals caged up would break my heart every time I went there in search of Olive. So, I really encourage folks to check out Animal Control's adoptable dogs and not just Chicago's famous Anti-Cruelty Society. The main reason being that AC will euthanize if a dog is not adopted within (I believe) 14 days of being available for adoption. A very short window to find a home.
In 2003, AC received 26,000 animals. Out of that massive number, 3,000 were adopted directly to a home, 4,000 were transferred to rescue groups (who hopefully found homes for them), 1200 were returned to their owners (hoorah!)...and 18,000 were euthanized. This is mainly due to irresponsible pet ownership. Failing to spay/neuter pets is a big part of that. Individuals or families that buy animals from pet stores (or mills) on a whim, but fail to realise/meet the responsibility of ownership add to it.
I sent her the links to both agencies. And since I was on the sites, I perused the adoptable pooches. Because, I'm a glutton for heartache.
This is Ryan at Animal Control. He's a JRT like Olive. And man...I know that look. He's four years old and weighs the same as O. But his legs look a bit longer, so I'm thinking he's a mite taller.
My mom once introduced me to a couple that had like 8 or 9 JRTs. They traveled like a hive of bees. It was crazy! I could never bring another JRT into the house...and the funny thing is that I keep telling myself that I'd never want another terrier...because they are, in many ways, terrors themselves.
But, then I look at that face and that lean and muscled body and think, "Man. Terriers freaking KICK ASS. He's so bad ass! I bet he's not afraid of the rain or cats!"
Another reason I am so adamant about adopting from AC is the one of our dogs (as a kid) was adopted from a similar facility. The story goes that my parents walked up and down the aisle of cages and this one little wire-haired mutt was jumping up and down like a pogo stick trying to get their attention.
The minute they opened the cage and picked her up, she collapsed from sheer exhaustion in my dad's arms and was as still as a church mouse all the way home. Turns out it was to be her last day "on the block" and she was scheduled to be euthanised the following morning if she was not adopted by the end of the day.
My parents brought home Charlie and she was, well, a dumb, but extremely loveable mutt who was fixture in our family for the next decade plus.
I also checked out Anti-Cruelty and saw this beastie.
His name is Spot and he's a 7-8 yr old shepard mix. Back when Olive was missing and I would walk through Animal Control every other day in search of her, I promised myself that when I was ready to bring another dog home, it would be an older dog.
I look at Spot and my heart just melts.
Good news! Spot was adopted today! Woot!
Yay! You gotta love a happy ending!
I'm not sure why I blogged about adopting pets. Especially when I'm trying to convince my friend not to adopt right now (her future plans are a bit up in the air.) And I'm not looking (or even considering adoption.)
But, if anyone reading this IS considering adopting a cat or a dog, please consider going to your local animal control facility. Yes, there are a lot of great no-kill shelters out there, but at animal control you might find a match that is not only ready to be your faithful buddy, who'll reduce your stresses and add years onto your life....but maybe you can add years onto his as well.
Comments
No matter how you slice it, Charlie was dumb.
My favorite story about Charlie is how, when we would give the dogs a treat, or a rawhide to chew on, Buttons would chomp hers up and then franticly pace by the door as if she had to go outside. Charlie would see this and immediately drop whatever she was chewing on and get on the "Hell, yeah! Let's go outside" bandwagon.
When the door opened, Buttons would literally step back so Charlie could bolt out the door past her. Then Buttons would casually saunter back to Charlie's treat/rawhide and have at it.
I saw it happen time after time and even when I try to talk some sense into Charlie, she'd still fall for the old bait and switch.
Adorable? Yes. Faithful? To the end. But dumb as a box of rocks, that one!