Rescue rewards (Rescued Dogs)

Member Name: goosey

Product:	Rescued Dogs
Date:	17/06/09 (92 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Happiness all round

Disadvantages: chewed up two remotes, three pairs of slippers and one mobile phone.

All animal lovers will know exactly how devastating it is to loose their pet, be it a cat, dog, rabbit or mouse. There follows a period whereby it is unthinkable to contemplate getting another dog. "I can't go through all that again," is the usual reason one gives to any sympathiser who will invariably ask if you will be getting another.

Five times I have been through that mangle, and each time found it equally unbearable to be without a four-legged companion.

I always have two dogs, who will keep each other company whilst I slip out to the shops or have to be away for an hour or two. When one of them eventually falls too ill to, humanely, keep going; the survivor grieves too.

I lost my last pet a little over 3 years ago, and three or four weeks through the grieving process, decided yet again, to home another dog, only this time adopt a rescue dog or pup.

A rescue animal is never sold to its new owner, it is adopted, which means that if, and heaven forbid, the new owner fell too ill to continue to care for the pet, the rescue centre would rehome it again.

I first visited a rescue centre fairly close by, but at that time, non of the dogs were suitable for one reason or another, i.e. too large, too old, or too ill. I was looking for a medium size youngish cross breed, which are reputedly healthier than pure breeds.

Next, I tried contacting an RSPCA centre, but failed miserably to get through to anything other than an answer phone, giving out an emergency number.

My next stop was my local vets, to see if they had a hot-line to the RSPCA.
No luck there either!! But, they did put me onto a rescue centre called
'Many Tears,' who rescue dogs and cats; get them checked, chipped, sterilised and brought back to health, if need be, then foster them to one of a vast team of carers scattered around the country. The headquarters of this particular animal rescue team is in Wales, and do have a web-site.

The animal is not kept at any pound. This appealed to me immensely.
I love their saying:
"The soul can have no rainbows, unless the eyes have shed some tears."

Without further ado, I contacted a local carer who sent me a long list with pictures and histories of all the dogs around Britain, needing homes.
Some of the stories made sad reading, but to my delight, one Collie Cross bitch was rescued just before she had seven gorgeous puppies.
After giving it a few seconds thought, I offered one of those pups a home.

Now adopting a pet from any rescue sanctuary is not all plain sailing, there are certain procedures that have to be gone through.
Firstly, I was invited to see the mother and pups, and choose one.
Then I had to fill out a long, but simple questionaire, and was given a form for my local vets to fill in, verifying my suitability to adopt; I also had to give my permission for my home to be inspected, again with the view to my suitability to care for the pup.

There is a small fee to pay for the animal, to cover the cost of some of the expenses incurred by the centre, but nothing near the cost of a new puppy.
I gave a little bit more - he was worth it.

Once all this was done, and I was announced a fit person to adopt this dear little pup, I had to wait another few weeks for it to be weaned from his mum.
It was a memorable day when I drove 150 miles to fetch my little pal, who settle in straight away. He is now three years old. A happy healthy dog, which makes me a healthy, happy owner.

Thanks to the many animal rescue centres around Britain, some stories can have very happy endings.

Summary: A rescued dog rewards his owner with oodles and oodles of love