Were now in the process of checking out dogs via rescue groups and shelters. Getting a dog from a rescue group or pound takes the sting out of the death of the previous pet. (And this post turns into bit of a rant as it goes, so you are forewarned...) Basically, I believe you honor the previous dogs life by making a home for a new dog. And with animal rescue, youre also playing a small part in solving an enormous problem in the world (which might be more easily solved if people, and towns and counties and states, would just neuter and spay their pets...it would save a ton of money, it would save a ton of animal lives, etc. But for some reason tons of people do not do it. Gah.) Back to my main point. So when you get a new pet, particularly via an organization that shelters strays, you not only get a new buddy, you save one life and help another animal be rescued, provide more space in a shelter, food, water, medical, etc. Doesnt make me miss Wacey any less to think of this, but it makes me feel were doing the right thing by his life. And ours, too. Im selfish about this -- I love dogs. Im a little like the people in Philip Pullmans His Dark Materials books -- dogs are my daemons. They express the good side of life and guard against the bad. Ill post a picture when it looks like we have a new member of the family. The search has begun, although weve been shocked (and put off) to discover that some local pounds seem to have some racist employees -- meaning, if Raul (handsome, well-dressed, thoughtful, great guy) goes in, they turn away from him like hes looking to run a dogfight ring or perhaps even fry up a puppy. When we got a rabbit from rabbit rescue, one of the several groups representatives asked Raul if he intended to feed the bunny to his boa constrictor. As if we have a snake, as if someone WITH a snake would pay $100 and sign a lengthy application/contract for a bunny just to feed a snake, as if everyone who is hispanic automatically has a boa constrictor at home and goes searching bunny rescue groups just to find the boas next meal. Honestly, you feel bad for the bunnies having this kind of thing. And of course, anyone confronted will point to some apocryphal story in some distant state about how someone once did this and they happened to be Latino. Really annoying and always surprising when I witness it, because Id like to believe this kind of ignorance wouldnt exist, particularly in animal rescue, but...it does. And if it happens to Raul, I can guarantee it happens to people you love and respect all the time. And its usually less specific than that. They usually say nothing specifically racist. They just ignore him. They just walk out of the room so hes left on his own in the pound and nobody says a word to him. Harrumph. However, LUCKILY, there are rescue organizations who dont do this, and shelters that dont -- and those are the ones were contacting now. But given the needs of these animals, this is the kind of behavior that pounds and shelters dont need in their employees. Look, come into our home, check out our lives, ask neighbors, our vet, our friends. Were good with that, if you want to make sure the animal will be well-cared-for. But dont judge anyone by skin tone. It makes you look ugly and small-brained and will probably keep away opportunities in life you dont want to miss. Off the soap-box, onto the search.
Posted on: Fri, 08 Aug 2014 14:36:32 +0000
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