Why We Rescue Dogs

Lately Josh and I have been discussing getting another dog. Actually, we've been discussing it forever really, since before Jack was even "tossed" into our lives, literally via the back fence. Originally the plan went something like this: research breeders and get two puppies, one boy and one girl, to raise at the same time and grow up together. And that's pretty much what we did, or rather, started to do. We found an awesome breeder in Michigan and waited for weeks for our puppies to come into the world. Sadly, a few days before they were due there was a complication and all of the puppies but 2 died. One boy and one girl. The breeder chose to keep that girl so we decided to wait on puppies. Then a cousin who worked for one of the police forces in Indiana had a dog who was about to have pups and we were again excited about puppies. The entire litter was stolen a week before they were to be flown to us. The third breeder never got back to us. At that point we gave up on trying to get puppies; we just weren't having very good luck. Or maybe, since every litter was German Shepherd puppies we wondered if this was our sign to get something else!

And then Jack happened and at the time we had no intentions of keeping her. But then we fell in love with her and we are not even remotely sorry for making the decision to make her a part of our family. She has 2 older feline sisters that she tortures daily and about 7 tennis balls that she rolls around the house or back yard all at once trying to pick them ALL up. She is such a sweet, beautiful creature that we cannot imagine what we ever would have done without her!

Now the time has come again that we are ready for another dog. I have been kind-of looking but not really too hard because we were trying to figure out what we wanted exactly. I've looked at the area rescues but no one really jumped out at us, although they are all so cute that I could take them all home!!!! We don't mind mutts, because Jack is one. We don't mind a rescue because Jack was one. We don't necessarily need a puppy because Jack came to us as one, so we've had our puppy fix. So it has been a half hearted attempt.



Until about a month ago, when I went along to the vet's office to help my mom with her two dogs. While we were waiting a lady brought in her Rottweiler and I thought "Man, I just loved having Jade when she lived with us; maybe we should get a Rottie. Their wonderful, sweet, loyal dogs." I was thinking on this when not even 5 minutes later another lady walks in (where are the husbands at by the way??) with a Westi and a Doberman. I began talking to her and was completely drawn in. After that I was set; I knew what I wanted.

I went by Barnes and Noble on the way home and picked up some literature. Dobermans just happened to be a featured breed in March's edition of Dog Fancy (how convenient!). I was super impressed not only by the dog but by the breed foundation. I've never read anything about any breed where over and over again it tells you to absolutely make sure this dog is for you. Usually its "now this is an energetic breed so make sure you have plenty of space, etc". This one recommends countless times to check out the Doberman Pinscher Club of America (http://www.dpca.org/) to learn as much as you can before making your decision. Over and over again I saw this. So I did. I went online and am completely hooked now. This breed is not only energetic, but problem solving smart, loyal, lovable, sweet tempered, people loving, and animal friendly (so my cats may survive another canine, heehee). They are perceptive, intuitive, and sensitive. They are also one of the only dogs that can not only sense danger but can discern it before it actually happens! They are most recognizable for their role as guard dogs but they are also phenomenal at agility, as a service dog, and even in search and rescue, not to mention the numerous other abilities. This is an awesomely versatile dog.

So, I started to check online at rescues and came across some Doberman Rescues here in Texas. I really wanted to go visit both, however, they both have a policy about living within a certain distance and even attending mandatory classes, which is awesome and I would totally do it if we had one here! Long story short: I live to far away to adopt from either of them =( However, I'm going to write the rescue and get as many references that I can and really just pray and hope that someone will be willing to work with me living so far away.

Now, the whole point of this blog wasn't to tell you guys about how we want another dog. I just did that so that way there was a starting point, so that we're all on the same page. The point of this blog is to answer a couple of questions that I was asked me on Facebook the other day: Why? Why do you want a Doberman? You can just get a different kind of puppy. And why a rescue? (Anne and Lynne both have Labs, so they try to recruit me all the time to get a Lab puppy!!)
As far as why a Doberman, I think that I sort of answered that above. As to why not a puppy.... well a puppy is cute and sweet and fluffy but it also needs housebroken, and crate trained, and honestly I'm not sure if I can go through the chewing phase again right off the bat! Jade pretty much taught Jack the ropes as a puppy. She's over a year now and has only had 5 accidents indoors ever! And 3 were our fault! She learned to sit, wait to be fed, ask to go out, etc, all by watching Jade. She's one smart cookie. But she's still a pup and it wouldn't be wise having a kid teach a kid. Besides, we are perfectly content with getting an older dog.

Which leads us to: Why rescue? Well... why NOT? I refuse, REFUSE to buy a dog from a pet store. I know that they need to be bought and loved on too and that they can make great pets. I know that some pet stores buy from local small breeders only. But I am so afraid of buying a dog that's from a puppy mill and inadvertently supporting the mill that I just refuse to get one from a pet store period. SOMEONE will buy the dog that I say no to. However, there are perfectly good dogs at a rescue that just need love and attention and devotion too but most people want a puppy and not an older dog. The kicker is that most of the dogs at the shelters started out being someones puppy. Most people believe that the majority of them come off of the streets and that's just not true. They were brought in because they were "un-trainable" or they "are too hyper" etc etc etc. Mostly, it's because they weren't a puppy any more and were probably not raised properly from the beginning. Then the owners just didn't want to take the extra time to re-teach them. It's very sad really. There's a quote in an add in BARK! magazine that says:

"Shelter dogs aren't broken. They've simply experienced more life than other dogs. If they were human, we would call them wise."

I saw an add yesterday in the paper for a local breeder with a litter of Dobermans. My heart didn't quicken and I wasn't itching to call them. All I could think about was how that would be some dog somewhere that I didn't rescue that needed me to give it a home. I knew 100% in that moment that our next dog would be a shelter dog. So tonight I'm going to sit down and write to the Houston Doberman Rescue and the North Texas Doberman Rescue in Dallas and see what they say. If we never try then we will never know if we could have succeeded. Besides, I was a Marine. We never give up, especially when it's important. ~ Jess

I found this on the Houston Doberman site and I wanted to share it with you all. It's something to think about if any of you ever decide to get a dog or another dog.

Do I Go Home Today?

by Sandi Thompson

My family brought me home one day

cradled in their arms

the cuddled me and smiled at me

and said I was full of charm

They played with me and laughed with me

and showered me with toys

Is sure do love my family

especially the girls and boys

The children loved to feed me

they gave me special treats

They even let me sleep with them

and snuggle in the sheets

I used to go for walks

often several times a day

they even fought to hold my leash

I am very proud to say

These are things I'll never forget;

a cherished memory

I know live in a shelter

without my family

They used to laugh and praise me

when I played with that old shoe

But I didn't know the difference

between the old one and the new

The kids and I would grab a rag

for hours we would tug

So I thought I did the right thing

when I chewed the bathroom rug

They said that I was out of control

and I would have to live outside

this I did not understand

although I tried and tried

The walks stopped one by one

they said they didn't have time

I wish that I could change things

I wish I knew my crime

My life became so lonely

in the backyard on a chain

I barked and barked all day long

to keep from going insane

So they brought me to a shelter

but were embarrassed to say why

They said I caused an allergy

and then kissed me goodbye

If I'd only had some classes

as a little pup

I wouldn't have been so hard to handle

when I was all grown up

"You only have one day left"

I heard the worker say

Does this mean a second chance?

Do I go home today?