You Can Buy Love. Cheap.

Kristin, our dogs bring smiles even on the worst days.

Jill, dogs: a furry sedative I say.

Laura, somehow we always get the best looking dogs. These were thin, with almost no hair after being treated for mange. They have plenty of hair now as our vacuum cleaner will attest.

Joan, there are awesome dogs at the shelter everyday just waiting for you.

Gretchen, I wish we could get a couple more. I need a farm.

Carie, all these photos are of the same 2 dogs in their various states of groomed...or not.

Mike, Amen. These 2 make up our trio of rescues. Abigail, some sort of beagle terrier mix gave us 10 happy years before dying the perfect death. Just passing away un-assisted in our daughters lap.

These guys have been with us 3.5 years.

Thanks Maria and Donald!

Karen Anne you are priceless! I am holding my fingers off the keyboard since they are dying to try to make more analogies. I will leave that up to you.

Beth, good thinking. you know your situation doesn't permit you to be a good pet owner now. Too bad everyone isn't as thoughtful of the future.

Tammie...you need a back up dog or 2 I say. Just tell your husband. He will adapt.

Valerie folks like you who understand dogs can take on the tougher cases. Good for you. The older dogs often do not get adopted for the reasons you mentioned.

Lisa, these 2 dogs were pretty "whacked out" when we got them. The smaller older one which is the mother of the larger one was OK in a month. The younger one is still afraid of everything but has improved 200%.

Karen,  If I had more time I would volunteer at the shelter. Maybe this winter. Thanks for the compliments on the photo show. I need to get back in the video arena. I haven't done one in months.

Vanessa, exactly. Our pets are a seamless part of our lives that make it infinitely better. I do think it helps our marriage too. Dogs provide stress relief that might otherwise be improperly channeled no?

Janis, go get some more dogs girl.

Cheryl, that dog with the great tail is Penny Lane. She is hysterical and the tail is the worlds finest plume.

Michael. indeed! I am glad they let us live with them too :-)

C team, good for you guys. The reward is much greater than any effort required.

Margaret, our first came from the Fairfax County animal shelter. The next 2...mother and daughter ...came from a pet finders foster home.

Paula, when the time comes we will follow your example and let the remaining dog pick its next buddy. The 2 we have now are mother and daughter with the mother Penny being half the size of her daughter Ellie. Penny still rules though.

Sandy, on one hand I like going to the shelter and seeing the animalls being adopted. On the other hand, I wish people's bad behavior made shelters obsolete.

Thanks Leslie ...it is worthwhile love both ways no?

Thanks Debra, the one dog we have the was "stand-offish" has come around in three years...she still is nervous as a cat though. Harsh treatment in the past does not fade over night in animal psyche. She must have been very poorly treated. She will eat one bite off food ...stop and look around to see if she is likely to be attacked. Any little noise makes her bolt to the next room. Having her mother with us has helped a lot. Her mother is afraid of nothing. Strange no?