Embracing Rescue

EMBRACING RESCUE

The rescue movement has taken off and more and more folks are getting on the bandwagon to rescue in lieu of purchasing a dog.  With the onset of reality T.V., and Internet websites such as Pet-finder and Adopt-a-Pet, rescuing a dog; i.e., adopting a dog from either a public shelter or a local rescue organization is becoming more and more the norm.  This represents a wonderful shift, and is great news for the animals.  Dogs (and cats, and other animals) who would have never had the opportunity of being seen before, now have a chance of being blasted all over the Internet, noticed, and welcomed into a loving home.  But there are also harsh realities.  I have written this article, with the intent to judge no one, nor is it ever my intent to criticize anyone who turns to a shelter or a rescue to adopt a pet.  Additionally, I slant this article towards dogs specifically whereby I steer my non-profit.

 

Since starting a dog rescue organization in 2009, it has become more apparent that we still live in a very superficial world.  Yes, people state that they “feel so bad” but in truth, we still have a lot of growing to do.  I have never been more reminded how outward appearances drive the world until I started a dog rescue.  Essentially, it’s Match.com for dogs.  Most people still want the cutest dogs, or dogs that resemble certain pure breeds, over a dog that has a great personality.  (And please, if the shoe does not fit, don’t feel the need to put that shoe on!  I realize that not everyone feels the same way.  This article is mainly geared to address the bulk of interests that I receive on dogs on a daily basis.)  People want very young, super cute, ‘no behavioral issues at all’ pups.  For a great majority, the approach is no different than when one is attempting to purchase a dog, but instead, via a rescue organization.  OK, I get it; a person who has recently put their dog to sleep is hardly going to be keen on adopting a senior dog whereby the outcome may be that they may need to repeat that same sad experience soon.  But it seems as if people think a four, or five, or even a six-year-old dog is old.  Even many senior citizens will not consider a slightly older dog.

 

There are A LOT of pluses in adopting slightly older.  One thing that stands out to me is that the dog is truly past all of the nonsense that puppies and adolescent dogs come with.  People THINK that a slightly older dog will come with “bad habits,” but in truth many of them are more solidly potty-trained, calmer, and quite a bit more socialized.  They have met more people, been to the vet more, been to the groomer’s more; overall, they have just been more places and have had more exposure to the world around them.  I see a lot of younger dogs that have a lot of issues and outright fears because they became homeless so very young.  Slightly older dogs who became homeless a little bit later in life – they didn’t miss out on that very important “childhood development” piece and in many cases, are more solid balanced dogs.

 

And what about your special needs dogs?  Or a dog with a slight behavioral issue?  There does not seem to be too much room for them either.  Many people shy away from anything that may represent some work or training.  They want immediate gratification.  I’ll go as far as to say that most want the cutest as well as the most perfect dog possible.  The sad outcome of this reality is that those of us who rescue begin to let looks become the driving force for which dogs we pull from the shelters and which dogs are left behind in spite of how friendly and socialized the dog is.  The thought “Can I place this dog?” has become the prevailing thought and this really should not be the deciding factor.  What ends up happening is that in spite of how great a dog may be, how wonderful the personality, the black dog, the brindle dog, the Pit Bull, the Chihuahua, or any dog that represents an adoption challenge, again, based on the world’s standard of what is deemed attractive or desirable, is passed over.

 

Recently, I had the great privilege to encounter a gal who specifically wrote to me about a dog, Pansy, who we had in the rescue for five months.  She wanted to meet Pansy for no other reason than she saw that Pansy kept getting passed over – no one was adopting her.  She asked specifically to meet Pansy to give Pansy that chance.  She ended up adopting Pansy, and I will always thank this adopter for going into the adoption process with such an open heart and mind to look past Pansy’s presentation in the meet and greet and trust what I assured her would result once she took Pansy home.  Occurrences such as these have allowed my faith to grow, and more and more, I see that given time and patience, many stories do end happy, and also with great satisfaction.

 

I truly do understand the aspect of attraction.  I just wish that it didn’t translate to our canine companions quite so much.  My truest wish is for folks to become more open and welcoming of personality, overall behavior, and quite frankly, “charm” over looks when it comes to our animal friends.  People write to me every day and I’ve made it a course of study.  They know what they want, they want what they want.  But what is it that drives true rescue?  It’s giving chance to the underdog.  It’s giving a chance to the dog that no one else wants.  It’s giving a chance to the dog with the under-bite, or the overbite, or the strange spots.  It’s giving a chance to the dog that recently had her fourth litter  and you wonder if she’ll ever regain her shape again.  When you think about it, this is much like us, like the human race.  We are full of flaws and imperfections.  We are far from perfect.  We grew up knowing what it was like to be made fun of, or hurt in some way because there was something different about us.  I would like to see a true shift by way of the masses to think outside of the box and be more “embracing” of all of the many dogs in need to include slightly older dogs, senior dogs, special needs dogs, black dogs, American Pit Bull Terriers, Chihuahuas, or any other dog that is considered “undesireable.”  Becoming more trusting of the “fit” that can be created for you by way of a solid rescuer, and the rewards therein, I believe, will result in a true, internal satisfaction that a wonderful life has been saved.  And please solidly know that anyone adopting any animal from any shelter or rescue organization has done a wonderful deed and service no matter what.