This Post is for the Dogs

There are many, many, real estate-related topics on which I could write volumes -- enough to make you laugh, cry, and bore you to sleep (those are the good closings.)  But, this is my blog, and I'll write what I want to.  This post is for the dogs.

There is a place in West Columbia, SC, where dogs (and cats) are absolutely and unequivocally safe.  They are welcomed with open arms, no matter their condition or temperament.  They are lovingly bathed, brushed, fed, walked, petted, medicated when necessary, and advertised.  ADVERTISED?  Yes, they are advertised on Pets, Inc., the website of a wonderful no-kill animal shelter where many beautiful dogs and cats are dropped off in various conditions.  Some are malnourished, some have suffered despicable conditions, some have suffered horrid people, some have injuries, some are half-dead, some are "inconvenient," and some are just fine.  Many are so well-cared for, they must at first believe this is just the babysitter's house and "their people" will be back in a day or two.

Thinking of getting a puppy?  Think Pets, Inc.  Frequently, entire litters of puppies are dropped off, many times WITH the poor mother of the puppies, because it is too much of a burden for the owners to care for all of them.  This economy has people cutting back in many areas of life -- people are watching their finances carefully, and sometimes Fido is the next thing to get cut from the budget.

Remember, though, puppies are akin to babies.  They are time-consuming.  They have to be fed frequently, gotten up with at night, played with, walked, house-trained -- not only for purposes of where to go to the bathroom, but they also have to learn social skills, not to chew the furniture and empty the trashcan every time you leave the house.  Sometimes an older, more mature dog is a better choice.

WAIT, you think an old dog can't learn new tricks?  Like, for example, learning to live by your rules at your house?  Let me introduce you to Maggie.  I met Maggie 5 years ago.  She was several years old already.  Too old of a dog to learn new tricks, as you say.  She was a mess, and I don't think she had ever been inside a home.  She was left in her yard after the owners moved, and then taken to the local pound.  Before she was euthanized, a former neighbor saved her from the pound and took her to Pets, Inc., where she was fed and sheltered and (most importantly) kept alive until my husband saw her.  He had recently lost his fuzzy companion of 11 years, and just happened across Maggie on the Pets, Inc. website.  It was love at first sight.  He brought her home -- she was so timid, she would barely come near him at first.  I'll spare you the gory details of her condition, but it was obvious that she had been severely neglected and abused.  She was even skittish around children.

Now, I'm not going to say that Maggie is perfect (my husband will vehemently disagree with that statement), but I will tell you this:  old dogs learn new tricks, my friend.  Maggie house-trained easily, has never chewed a piece of furniture, never upset the trash, rarely gets into trouble of any kind, makes friends easily among dogs and people, and most importantly, although Maggie came from the wrong side of the tracks and was dealt some horrible blows for the first part of her life, Maggie is full of love.  Case in point:  two years ago we brought home a newborn baby to Maggie.  She was displaced as the center of attention, and confronted with a new creature who made a lot of noise and consumed nearly all of our affection.  That same baby learned to stand by pulling himself up on her FUR while she stood patiently by.  When that baby started talking, he called her "Mama" for a while.  I can't make this stuff up.

Why am I writing all this stuff about Maggie, and what about my other dog?  (Poor Blondie will have to get her glory in another post.)

Join me in supporting Pets, Inc.  Support it with your time, make a donation (you get to call yourself a Sloppy Drinker if you become a regular supporter!), buy dog food from them, shop in their pet supply store or their thrift store (where you can also make donations of goods) and above all else, adopt a dog or a cat that needs a good home.  There are literally thousands of animals adopted through Pets, Inc. each year and let me tell you, these animals are not REJECTS.  They are not throwaways, and there is nothing wrong with them except that someone did not take care of them.  Step in!  You, too, can get Maggie-d.