Because it is one of my passions, many of my books feature rescued or abandoned pets. You will notice that theme becoming more common in future books. I am a huge advocate of pet rescue and adoption, so many of my characters feel the same way. Look for my own pets to assume starring roles in future projects. In the meantime I will feature a rescued pet here each month to raise awareness about Pet Adoption & Rescue. Here’s your chance to showcase your best friend to the world. Simply email me a jpg. pic of your pet (please keep files under 500kb) as an attachment to teresa@teresaslack.com along with a brief description about what he or she means to you.

We are their voice. Let us tell the world how much pet rescue has impacted our lives.

A Dog’s 10 commandments

1. When you adopt me, remember my life could last 15 to 20 years. Please don’t     forsake me. Any separation from you is painful.

2. Please give me time to understand what you want from me. Change can be        more difficult for me than you.

3. Please don’t be angry with me for a long time, and don’t lock me up alone as    punishment. You have your human family, your friends and entertainment. I have    only you.

4. Please trust me and help me trust you. It is crucial for mine as well your well       being.

5. Talk to me, even if you think I don’t understand your words. I understand your      voice and love it when you speak to me and stroke me.

6. Before you hit me, remember that I have teeth and claws and could easily hurt     you, but I choose not to bite and scratch you because I love you.

7. Be aware that however you treat me, I will never forget even though I will            forgive you.

8. Never punish me for being a dog. Before you scold me for being uncooperative      or bad, ask yourself if maybe something is wrong and there is another reason      for my behavior. Perhaps I am sick, hot, old, or just plain tired, frustrated and       weak. Please understand what it is like to be me and put yourself in my place.

9. Please don’t blame me for getting old. Don’t abandon me, for you too will         grow old. Please notice when I am sick and take me to the vet, just like you go   to the doctor when you are sick.

10. Go with me on the most difficult journeys. Never say, “I can’t bear to watch”          or “Do it after I leave” because I need you with me even at the end of my             journey. Always do what is best for me, even if it is hard for you to do so             because I love you and trust that you will.

If you are in the southern Ohio area and are looking to adopt a pet or volunteer your time and energy to a worthy cause, visit these websites. A Journey Home Animal Refuge and Over the Rainbow Pet Adoption Center. God bless you for all you do for his creatures. If you don’t live in southern Ohio, don’t despair. There are thousands of sites that will put you in contact with a rescue group in your area. Take a look at gas prices and you’ll see we are careening headfirst into an economic recession. Please consider shelter adoption before      spending your hard earned dollars on a pedigree animal.

Here are some of the four-legged friends of fellow animal lover and writer Katie Sansone . This is just a sampling of her animals. My website isn’t big enough to feature them all. Hope you enjoy. To learn more about Katie and her brand new book available this month, click here.

Pictured here are Tessa and Lady. Below is Belle. She was rescued from the animal shelter. She went to live with some other friends who are training her to save lives. She will be a true RESCUE DOG.

                                                                                             If you would like to see your pet featured here, send me a photo as an attachment and your adoption story. I look forward to hearing from you.

When my dog, Reiley, was killed on February 16th, 2004, it was like losing a member of the family. I thought I would never recover. Reiley was my companion, my best friend. I couldn’t even go into my office for days because he wasn’t laying under the desk keeping me company. The loneliness was a terrible thing to bear. It wasn’t long before I realized I needed a new friend in my life. Much like I found Reiley, I began my search on the Internet. Through a random search, I happened upon www.petfinder.com  It was very simple. I typed in my zip code, breed options, size of dog, etc. to personalize my search.

Your search is of course, not limited to dogs. Any type of pet you may be in search of can be found there or on a similar site.
My heart broke at the stories of these abused, neglected, and forgotten animals. I decided that paying a breeder a lot of money for a particular breed was not for me when there are so many pets looking for homes. I inquired about several of the dogs I found on the site. All the foster parents and facility staff I talked to were honest about the needs of each dog. They do not want to place a dog in an unsuitable home. One of the dogs I asked about was sensitive to loud noises and would not do well in an active household. Another was frequently getting outside his fence and running through the neighborhood.

Besides searching the web, I also visited local animal shelters. It is tempting to bring every dog home. My husband was suffering as much as I was over our loss of Reiley, but he would have drawn the line had I done that. So we took our time to find the dog that best suited our home and lifestyle. After thinking and praying and researching, we decided on Angel.   

    
Angel is an affectionate Lab-mix, a lap dog in a fifty pound body.     She had been found wandering the streets of Wilmington, Ohio. The woman who took her in had two small children and two other dogs, whom Angel got along great with, but the household did not have the room for another dog. The woman kindly turned her over to the county shelter instead of turning her back out onto the streets. From there she was placed her in a foster home with seven other dogs. A social butterfly, Angel blended right in. When we brought her home though, she seemed lonely. Several months after we adopted her, I told my husband she needed a companion. My sister suggested a younger dog with a submissive nature, preferably a female. That way the new dog would accept Angel as the alpha dog.

The very next day while I was outside playing with the kids, a puppy entered our yard. She looked to be about three months old. She was skinny and hungry. She wore a collar and knew the ‘Sit’ command so I knew someone had lost a sweet little dog. I called the neighbors for a few days, but never found her owners. Angel had a new little sister.

                      
Even the vet can’t identify Molly’s breed. A little Border Collie, a little Setter, and definitely a little Terrier since she can escape any fence built by man. But she’s lovable, sweet- tempered, and she and Angel are the best of friends. Best of all, she was housebroken after only one accident on the carpet. Who could ask for a better addition to the family?

So I implore you, if you are in the market for a pet, do your research and make sure you have the time and energy to provide a home your new pet deserves. This does not include being forgotten in the backyard tethered to a short lead. Visit your local animal shelter or one of the many sites available on the Internet about adopting a pet. Just because you aren’t paying top dollar for a designer dog, doesn’t mean you’ll be stuck with a stupid, homely, neurotic, vicious dog who has no chance of becoming part of your family. There are thousands of loving, warm, friendly animals waiting at your local shelter to fill your life with joy. They need your love, and the love they give in return can not be measured by pedigrees.

 
Whatever you do, think long and hard before buying a dog from a pet store or a breeder in your local paper’s classifieds. You may be unknowingly buying a pet from a puppy mill. The only way to shut down such heartless operations is for prospective pet owners to stop buying from them.

Go to www.StopPuppyMills.org or www.PuppyBuyersGuide.com to find out more about how you can help stop the abuses of commercial dog breeding. After all, our best friends deserve better.

 

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