October is Adopt-A-Shelter-Dog Month!

To enter my October giveaway, click here.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

It is no secret that I looooove dogs! Love love love them! It is also no secret that I consider our Bailey to be a true member of our family. He is, for all intents and purposes, our kid. He depends on us completely to care for his well-being, to protect him, to feed him, to give him a roof over his head and a warm bed to rest on. To play with him and take him for walks. To give him treats. And unlike some kids, he won't forget about us when he gets older. The love of a dog is unconditional and pure.

I have also made no secret of the fact that I VERY STRONGLY believe that whenever possible (and it is pretty much always possible if you let it be...) that if you are going to bring home a puppy or older dog, go to a shelter or rescue group. With the alarmingly high number of dogs (and cats) languishing in shelters or rescue group foster care there is no good reason to go to a breeder. There is also no good reason not to spay or neuter your pet. Unless you are highly trained you should not breed your pet. Sadly, many people look at it as an "easy" way to make a few bucks. So wrong on so many levels! It is even worse to get your pet from a pet store. Nearly all dogs for sale in pet stores have come from deplorable puppy mills.

I have to move on to the point of this post because I can feel my blood pressure rising just thinking about this stuff!

October is Adopt - A - Shelter - Dog - Month! You can visit the ASPCA's website for more information. Please spread the word. Someone you know may be getting ready to bring a dog in to their home. Please encourage them to adopt or rescue. Sadly tens of thousands of dogs and cats will be euthanized for no reason other than there is no room left for them at the shelter. 

But I know there is room for them...in your heart.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I can't talk about animal rescue without giving a shout out to the awesome rescue group that helped to bring Bailey in to our hearts and our home! Beagles of New England States, or BONES as it is affectionately known, is a totally non-profit, 100% volunteer organization that rescues, fosters, and finds forever homes for Beagles and Beagle mixes in the six New England states. When we decided it was time to bring a dog in to our home we knew right away we would adopt, whether it be from a shelter or rescue. There was just no other option. Going to a breeder was for sure NOT an option! Money had nothing to do with it. We could afford to go to a breeder but why do that? The rescues and shelters need our money much more, and those sweet dogs need forever homes. We really didn't have a preference as to breed other than we knew we preferred a mid-size or larger dog. In our research, hounds, and Beagles in particular, is what we kept coming back to. A link on PetFinder led us to BONES, and well, the rest is history! Not a day has gone by since November 21, 2004 that Bailey hasn't given us total joy!

Look at that little face!!!