Is anyone ever really ready to adopt pet?
I put off adopting a dog for a very long time. My wife and I both grew up with dogs and other animals, but as adults we chose cats.
Though I’d spent most of my adult life helping other people find the dog of their dreams and helping them assimilate them into their lives, I just couldn’t make the leap. At age 50 it happened. The right dog at the right time.
We fell in love with a mess of a beagle named Daisy. In heat, heartworm positive and afraid of everything. Night terrors to this day. What I’d been telling people was true. You can talk yourself into anything, but when the right animal is in front of you, you’ll know it. And you’ll say, “This is my dog.”
It happened to us. And we haven’t looked back.
Adopting a rescue animal not only changes that animal’s life it changes yours. We walk more. We spend more time outside. We know neighbors we never knew before. We certainly discuss the state of poo more than ever. We are more aware of our surroundings and of our community. We are aware of rescue in the broad sense. We have added more dogs to our pack. They, too, are a blessing.
Last year our store placed more than 410 rescued dogs and nearly 100 rescued cats. We’re so proud of these numbers. We want you to understand that every time a kennel is emptied in the store, it represents at least two more empty kennels along the way. In southern Illinois where our rescues come from, we are opening kennel space every time we adopt an animal up here. Unfortunately there appears to be an endless supply of animals in need with no end in sight.
Our mission is clear, our goal and commitment is unwavering—and we thank you for your support.
