A while back I was speaking with Dogster member Ron about his pup Takoda, a special needs dog. I asked if he would like to do an article on what it’s like to adopt a  special needs or older dog. What you bring to their lives, and the unbelievable joy they bring to yours.

I recently received Ron’s response and it seems like the perfect post as American Humane’s Adopt-A-Dog Month comes to an end.

I guess you could say that research started when my wife and I adopted Takoda. Like Logan, he was a stud dog in a Puppy Mill, used and abused for the first three years of his life and then ready to be tossed away, along with four other Dobermans, when the people who owned the Mill decided they were no longer of use and were ready to toss them to a Kill Shelter. Thank God a Rescue Group heard about that and promptly rescued them all. If that hadn’t happened, we never would have known how much love a Rescued and Adopted dog, be it a Senior or Special Needs, has to give.

I wanted to really be able to tell you exactly what was needed to adopt that Special Needs, or Senior, dog so I joined several different groups to see what others had to say. I just wanted to read the posts and see what was being said from the heart, not from the mind. What I wanted was their feelings and comments that were spontaneous, not thought out. Those reasons and feelings that came from deep within.

I’ve been visiting, reading and taking notes for quite a while now and just knew a pattern would start forming rapidly. Well, after all this time that hasn’t happened. From what I read in all those posts, there really wasn’t anything specific about the people who adopted a Special Needs or Senior dog, they varied from young to old, from those with the ability to give the best of care to those who would have to scrounge a little to take care of their pet. There just didn’t seem to be anything specific that was needed.

Read the rest of this entry »

Share this entry with your pawple anywhere:

I received a letter from a volunteer at the North Mecklenberg Animal Rescue about a beautiful girl named Hope, a throwaway who survived against the odds.

She is currently being fostered at a wonderful home but needs her own permanent loving forever home.

Hope was neglected and abused until, as a 6-8 month old puppy, being thrown into a rock quarry in an attempt to drown her. Her spirit and determination allowed her to fight for an indeterminate amount of time, acquiring significant injuries to her feet and legs as she tried desperately to free herself. Somehow, she found a small ledge, where she huddled for another indeterminate amount until Fire and Rescue rock climbed and rafted her out. By this point, she was totally catatonic and responsive due to her fear.

The reason my home was chosen for foster care was because of the very special pack of rescued animals who lives here. There is a rescued fighting dog who was used as bait and subsequently lost a rear leg and underwent 3 surgeries, another dog that was abandoned twice before the age of 3 months who is now a Therapy Dog for humans and other animals, and three elderly cats who were abandoned at various stages in their life. They now work together to help other animals adjust and recover from bad situations. One of these cats keeps all arriving foster dogs company by spending the night sleeping in front of their crates, as well as by engaging in boxing matches with the dogs regardless of their size.

Read the rest of this entry »

Share this entry with your pawple anywhere:

We have our Dog Of The Week, it’s Petey from the city of brotherly love. This boy is a cutie.

Petey  is a 10 year-old Jack Russell Terrier. He’s been on Dogster more than two years. He loves to go camping and take long walks to the park. He is not fond of baths but usually needs one when he comes home from camping.

He lives in Philadelphia and is no longer an Eagles fan. Obviously he is also a very smart boy.

Share this entry with your pawple anywhere:

How do you know fall is here? Check out People Pets 10 Furry Signs Fall Is Here.

Hayride Time Is Here

It’s Time To Get Snuggie

Football Sunday

Go to People Pets to view all the cute pictures, with a variety of furry critters.

Share this entry with your pawple anywhere:

In September I posted how Kate and Jon Gosselin gave up the German Shepherds they had so badly wanted.  Or maybe they just thought adding a few cute puppies into the mix would make their ratings go higher.

On Monday TLC had a Kate Gosselin special: You Ask, Kate Answers. This may be why I never bother watching TV, but I digress. On the show she claimed that she had never intended to give them back to the breeder. But yet she did?

Here are the details from USA Today.

They were returned in September amid the fallout of her divorce with Jon Gosselin. Kate said at the time “they’ll come back, but for now I needed a break.” But now, though she didn’t rule out bringing the dogs back, it sounded unlikely, The (Allentown, Pa.) Morning Call reports.

“I had to choose between the dogs and the kids and the kids come first,” said the Jon & Kate Plus 8 turned Kate Plus Eight star.

I cannot believe she said she needed a break, and that the dogs may be back. Seriously, give me a break.  Does she think you can just give your dogs away like their objects, excess baggage, and then you can just take them back at your own convenience?

I said it before and I’ll say it again, this is one selfish narcissistic woman. I think she needs a reality check, life isn’t just about her.

*Picture courtesy By Dr. Billy Ingram, Getty Images

Share this entry with your pawple anywhere:

A 28-year-old man, Jared Levi Colony,  got a friend’s  dog drunk while he was dog sitting. The dog’s owner was only gone for about a half an hour, but in that time Colony poured vodka into the dog’s bowl encouraging him to drink it.

Here are the details from the Metro.co.uk.

When the owner returned, the dog – named Pip – was unresponsive and had its tongue hanging out.

‘Pip’s just a little drunk right now,’ Colony is reported to have said.

Pip was treated for alcohol poisoning at the local at Bright Eyes and Bushy Tails veterinary hospital, and survived.

Colony, who may have thought this was funny, probably isn’t laughing anymore after being charged with animal abuse and facing up to two years in prison.

*I didn’t have a picture of the actual dog drinking, so here’s Dogster Reba posing as a drink, a Mai Tai to be exact.

Share this entry with your pawple anywhere:

My dog, Bizzy, isn’t a big fan of Halloween itself (too many people knocking on the door and ringing the bell) but he loves wearing costumes and in this week’s contest he’s modeling his latest to challenge all Dogsters on this week leading up to All Hallows Eve.

To enter just submit your caption by commenting on the post below. The winner will scare up 50 Zealies next Monday, November 2nd when champ is announced.

Photograph© 2009 MarkRogersPhotography.com all rights reserved.

Share this entry with your pawple anywhere:

This story gives a whole new meaning to the saying ‘your bark is worse than your bite.’  A woman in Athens, GA started barking when she heard someone trying to break into her house, eventually scaring off the intruder.

Here are the details from the Associated Press.

The Athens Banner-Herald reported Monday that the woman scared off the suspect around 11 p.m. Saturday. According to police, the woman got on the floor and began scratching at the door and acting like a large dog when the suspicious man tried turning the woman’s door knob.

The police report did not say what specific dog-like behaviors, such as barking, the woman mimicked.

I get the barking part, even the scratching at the door, but if the intruder couldn’t see her through the door why did she get down on all fours?

I know there must be a good joke in there somewhere, but I’m just going to let you fill in the punchline.

*If the woman had a real dog like Harley he could do the barking for her.

Share this entry with your pawple anywhere:

Since Halloween is coming up this weekend I decided to post some cute pics of dressed up Dogsters. We’re going to have a little fun with the photos, we need some funny captions  so it’s time to put paw to paper and get creative. For each caption chosen the Dogster who submitted it will win 25 zealies!

Submit a caption for one or more of the photos and on Friday, October 30th I will pick the winners.

Beth Boo

Buster

Derringer McQuade

Lady

Bailey

Share this entry with your pawple anywhere:

Hey…it’s Bo here.

Bow-Wow!, the free monthly newspaper for dog lovers on the Oregon and southwest Washington coast, has been keeping readers informed about dog-related events and activities since 2000. It’s entertaining, too, with regular features about dogs and their people.

In this month’s issue, rover reporter Gus Nevan gets his paws on a copy of my book. Since this was the first review of my book typeset on recycled trees, I was a bit nervous as I read along.

Bo Hoefinger, now that’s my kind of dog. A dog’s dog, if you know what I mean. He gets it, man, he really gets what being a dog is all about. And he tells it like it is, none of that high-falutin’, nose in the air attitude stuff for him. No sir. He’s not afraid to call a dog fart a dog fart. And, like me, he’s not ashamed of letting one rip, either.

All I can say is that Gus Nevan gets it, man, he really gets what being a reporter is all about!

Bad to the Bone is more fun than a ride in the car with the windows open—especially for my fellow mutts who have wagged their way out of the shelter system and into a devoted family. I say, drag your parents down to the book store and have them fetch a copy.

Here’s the link to the October issue of Bow-Wow!.

Go to my site at Bo Knows, and then click on the image at the top to read the whole thing. 

Click here to order a copy of BAD TO THE BONE: Memoir Of A Rebel Doggie Blogger for yourself or the dog lover (or dog) in your life, it’s the perfect holiday gift!

Share this entry with your pawple anywhere: