animal welfare

Rescue Dog Does Not Always Mean Abused Dog

Rescue Dog Does Not Always Mean Abused Dog
Gidget

It’s interesting. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had people ask me where I’ve gotten Gidget. When I tell them I got her from a rescue organization they more often than not will say, “Aw, who would abuse such a sweet dog?”

I heard the same thing when I had my dachshund Joie, also. She wasn’t abused. Her family, though they loved her very much, just couldn’t care for her with her special needs.

This was new for me, as Joie was my first dog I got from a rescue. My first two dogs were from breeders, as well as, Kylie, my Lab.

As far as a I know, Gidget wasn’t abused. Dogs in a rescue situation are there for many different reasons — and yes, some because they have been abused.

Even if Gidget would have been abused I wouldn’t want this to be the focus. I’d do my best to assure her that she is safe now and will enjoy a good life from now on.

Maybe it’s because I believe dogs sense our emotions. If a dog found their way to rescue because of abuse (and thank goodness for those that do!) I wouldn’t want that to be what I dwell on.

I’d want to make it right. To help them feel loved. To know they will always have a loving lap to lie on, and a soft pillow and warm blanket to make them comfortable….and that they will be showered with love until their last breath.

To help them let go of what was and live within the happy new place of where they are.

I also believe, for the most part, animals don’t always hold onto those bad memories. And with a little help from a loving human being, we can help them even more.

Isn’t that a great lesson our animals teach us? If we hold onto bad memories and bad things that may have happened to us, we will live in sadness and blame, for the rest of our lives…. thus missing out on really living.

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Who’s Savin’ Who? When Rescued Special Needs Pets Rescue Us


This is a special invitation to join in a heart-warming, thoughtful discussion of how special needs pets can affect our lives in ways we never imagined.

Join author Mary Shafer of Almost Perfect Pets and the People Who Love Them and award winning author, Barbara Techel of Frankie the Walk ‘N Roll Dog book series as they begin their discussion which they hope will help others see special needs pets in a whole new and wonderful way.

This discussion will begin Sunday, May 22nd, 2011 and will run through Saturday, May 28th on host Darlene Arden’s popular Facebook Fan page. Darlene is an award winning author, journalist, speaker and certified animal behavior consultant.  She is passionate about the welfare of animals and her goal is always the same: To enhance the lives of dogs and cats. Her newest book now out, The Complete Cat’s Meow: Everything You Need to Know about Caring for Your CatDarlene has hosted numerous discussions on her previous group Facebook page, “Rover! Get Off Her Leg!” which you can view in the archives.


Mary and Barbara hope to encourage others to give thoughtful consideration to a special needs pet as well as resources to help educate others about the options, and help in caring for a special needs pet.

We invite you to join in the discussion to share your stories as well as resources you may know to help enlighten others of all the blessings that these animals truly are.

Mary’s special needs pet, Idgie, born without eyes.


 

Barbara’s special needs pet, Frankie, known as the “walk ‘n roll dog” who has Intervertebral Disc Disease.