I have to tell you about my friend, Lisa.

She walked into her city pound several years ago and said "I want the oldest dog you've got. Or the sickest. Or both."

They thought she was crazy, but she adopted an eight year old poodle (miniature) who had epilepsy and cancer. She cared for that dog like she was her baby and, though she did die just a year later, that last year was wonderful, I have no doubt. Lisa spent hundreds of dollars in that last year on veterinary care and the best food for "Molly." Lisa wasn't married, had no kids, and had a job that didn't require any travel. She owned her own home with a fenced yard. The house isn't huge, but it's big enough.

Lisa has done the same thing, over and over. She now has four dogs, all of them the "oldest or sickest or both," all from the pound and all due to be euthanized.

She has never in her life owned a puppy.

All told, in the last ten years, she has adopted and cared for fifteen dogs, ALL of them the oldest and/or sickest she could find in the pound. By sick, I don't mean in horrible chronic pain with no hope of relief, thus probably SHOULD be euthanized, I mean sick, but not in terrible pain and could live another couple of years, happily, with good care. You know, health problems.

She's not a cat person, she only does dogs. Now she's married and she and her husband are expecting their first child, but she's going to continue to love and care for pound dogs in their last years or months of life (the shortest time between adoption and death was three months with a very very elderly lab mutt).

I admire her so much. Because of her example, my husband and I have only adopted rescue animals, both cats and dogs. There are several fantastic rescue groups here in North Texas who do the work of angels.

I just wanted to brag on her. I think she's an angel on earth. And she loves those dogs with all her heart. What a wonderful example she will be for her child.

from the humane association.

Adopting an adult animal is different. It takes a great deal of time to build trust with them, but it happens eventually. The girl kitty had been abused (face slappers) and turned in pregnant, so she was completely traumatized when I got her. The boy kitty had been terribly neglected and required a lot of care to his long fur, but he turned into a teddy bear fairly quickly. Both are lap cats now.

The real advantage to adopting adult critters is that they've been socialized and taught a few manners. They arrive knowing "NO" and "GET DOWN" (although the the tomcat knew it better in Spanish) and don't tend to swing on the curtains or destroy the furniture.

My next door neighbor fosters kittens for the humane society, so whenever I need a kitten fix, I can get one. When my two kitties die, I'm sure I'll adopt another adult sitting on death row at Kitty Auschwitz. It's worked out very well for me.

Send her a big hug from me, in thanks.

who does dog rescue work. This will make her day. She sees so much cruelty.

example to your children". I say this not because I wish to see you or your friend abused, but it would be nice if more people were exposed to your friends loving example. Have you posted this in the pet forum yet too? It would be really nice for some of those folks to see the beauty, compassion and reward of your friend in devoting herself to pound animals instead of obsessing over designer animals with brand name appeal from breeders.

What a great thing she is doing for so many dogs who otherwise would have no chance.

It's so wonderful to hear of things like this happening!! *sigh*

Thank her for me, will you? ;)

a personal story of animal compassion! Your friend is very special indeed and it warms my heart to know there are people so unselfish and giving.

I do enjoy your posts elsewhere on DU too !

I just got back in town and read them. My friend is not on DU (though she is a Democrat, not shocked, are you?) but I emailed the link to this page and told her I hope she doesn't mind I was bragging on her. She'll turn red, but I don't care, people need to know there are people like her out there. Maybe more will be motivated to adopt the little furballs with less time left on earth.

Thanks again, guys. :hug:

And good for you & your husband, too, only adoptin rescue animals.