Not Always About the Bike: October is Adopt-a-Shelter-Dog Month

I have a 15-year old Brittany named Molly who I adopted through a breed rescue group five years ago.

After my first Britt died at 17, I volunteered with American Brittany Rescue as a foster mom for their homeless dogs. I did this because I love the breed and in honor of Britt, who was the king of dogs, and who loved me unconditionally everyday of his long and happy life.

As a foster mom and volunteer, you hear a lot of horror stories about dogs being abandoned in the woods, abused, used in puppy mills or just dropped off at a shelter, no longer wanted. It is heartbreaking. There are other stories of people truly unable to care for their dogs.

Molly actually came from a loving home in Rhode Island, but her owner
died from pancreatic cancer and his wife who walked with a cane could not keep
up with this active girl. So she turned her over to ABR’s care.

Molly was almost 10 when I picked her up -- a senior dog citizen. My intention was only to foster her, but my husband said she should not have to get used to a third family and so she became part of ours.

Like most of her breed, (Brittanys are hunting dogs) she was an active, alert dog, needing walks and hikes and doing funny things like jumping on the bed, frantically digging the bed linens, and loudly barking at anyone who dared to walk or drive by our house.

They say when you give a dog a second chance they love you twice as much,
and I truly believe that. Molly and I adore each other. 

Lately I’ve noticed she is slowing down, which makes me sad. This past weekend, instead of cycling, I had to take her to the vet because of a persistent cough.

The vet thinks it is bronchitis and she is now on two kinds of meds. She definitely seems a little out of it, but I hope the meds will help and she can continue to enjoy her senior years.

When I got back from the vet, I read a post from the Meriden Humane Society that said October was Adopt-a-Shelter-Dog month. I thought perhaps for this week it might be more meaningful to blog about that.

The folks at Meriden Humane also say that you can "be a hero and save a life" and that "you may end up rescuing your new best friend in the process." I can say without doubt that Molly is and has been my best friend these past five years.

Often, I’ve skipped an after-work bike ride because I knew that my time with her was short, and so we would walk or hike together, enjoying the fresh air and setting sun. I’ve never regretted one moment spent with her.

So I say to all my readers consider adopting a shelter dog: There are so many sitting in cages or on concrete floors just waiting for love and protection.

If you can’t adopt, volunteer. Help with fundraising or dog walking is always appreciated. Not interested in any of that? Drop off a bag of food or better yet, write a check -- donations are always needed. It costs a lot to vet, feed and house dogs on their way to a second chance.

Please help -- you won’t regret it.

Area Animal Shelters:

http://www.animalsforlifect.com/
Animals for Life, in the town of Middlebury Public Works Complex

http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/CT214.html
Southbury Animal Control, Peter Road, Southbury

http://www.daws.org/  Danbury Welfare Society, 147 Grassy Plain
Street, Bethel, CT 06801

http://www.cthumane.org/site/PageServer
Connecticut Humane Society, Newington, CT 701 Russell Road, Newington, CT 06111