Those of you who have been on this site for some time may remember that I 'adopted' a collie/lab from an overworked rescue centre after my previous lab, who had been found abandoned at about eight weeks, died suddenly aged eight.
It has been three years hard work, but now my dog is fabulous - completely house-trained, well socialised, friendly, impeccable on the lead, travels well in the car, enjoys running on the beach and in the fields.
She does neighbourhood watch from 'her' window seat and really enjoys 'hunting'. She came home one day with a dead gerbil she had found, and although some may say dogs don't have expressions, hers was a mixture of pride and defiance as she was determined that I should have it as a present.
I have only ever had rescue or abandoned dogs - one actually turned up in my porch - a lovely old Springer, who has now gone to doggie heaven, and is buried under an apple tree beside the daffodils
To anyone who is thinking of getting a dog I would say - open your heart to a rescued one, choose well, be patient and consistent - the rewards are well worth it.
Well done & congratulations that all your hard work paid off. Next time, instead of a gerbil perhaps she could be persuaded to make it a nice steak or a bunch of flowers. I keep trying to get through to the mog that these would be nicer than mice.
My second dog was a rescue dog. He was five years old when I got him and was a total psycho. I loved him and he loved me and that was all that mattered. I had him for 9 years before he died. He was a lab/GSD cross.
Well done, for giving a rescue dog a loving home. I have a rescue dog called Butch, we got him over five and half years ago. We seen him in the local paper, where he and other dogs were looking for a new home.
He is now, nearly 16. I would just like to say never be put off by the older ,rescue dogs. They sometimes get overlooked because of their age, Butch was in kennels 6 months before we got him, and he is a wonderful , loving dog. We all love him to bits.
Well done annemollie. I also only take older dogs as they do get overlooked. My last one was 13 years old when I rescued him and had just lost a leg. I had him for almost 3 years to the day when at 16 he had a heart attack at home and died. I adored him and he adored me.
rescue dogs are always sooo grateful and faithful, we have a rescue sharpei/staff cross who was tied to a lamp post and left for three days, she came to us all skin & bones with cigarette burns, no fur from shock and needed an eye op as her eyelashes had turned in, six years later she is a happy chubby dog but never lets me out of her sight in the park probably in case she gets abandoned again.
My pal only rescues shar peis [ her website is sharpei welfare and rescue uk] when they are puppies and cute everyone wants one but when they grow into their wrinkles and arent cute anymore people dont want them and the poor dog doesnt know what its done wrong.I hate it when the Beckhams or similar are posing with one of these puppies because you know fans are going to follow and abandon at a whim.
Any rescue dog will be grateful for a new home so think about getting one when the time is right for you.
Well said Dee SA - have worked in animal welfare all my life (here and Arica) - can testify that there's nothing as faithful as a successfully rehomed abandoned dog.