Celebrating National Rescue Dog Day
Posted by Amy Hempe on
Rescue dogs have a special place in our heart, here at Really Good Pets. While we love all dogs, today we are celebrating those who were rescued from tough beginnings.
Rescue dogs are finally having the moment they deserve. For so long, dogs in shelters had a bad rap. People would assume there had been something insurmountably deficient in these dogs for them to have ended up in doggie-jail. But the truth is, many of these dogs were just fine. Many times the owners were one emergency away from lacking the resources available to pay for dog food. Or they had to move and heartbreakingly, couldn't take their pup with them.
Sometimes the dogs were just being dogs - chewing things not meant to be chewed, or pooping on places not meant to be pooped on. Dogs aren't always easy. But they can learn to be good dogs.
Dogs who've been given a second chance can be amazing. They can become therapy dogs, as is the case with Bo, a boxer-mix in Lakewood, Colorado who works with elderly patients in memory care. They can become comfort dogs who children read to, like Harvey, a cattle dog mix in Aurora, Colorado.
And of course, many of these dogs become our best friends. They wiggle uncontrollably when we arrive home from work. They comfort us when we receive bad news. They sleep near us at night and give us kisses when we wake up. Sometimes they steal our potato chips and fail to buy us a new bag, but overall, there is far more good than bad, and we love them no matter what.
Today there are rescue organizations for nearly every breed of dog. These groups are often in continuous need of funds and other resources such as supplies or food. There are also pet food banks that can use donations as well. All of these places strive to place pets in good homes and keep them there - this takes some of the burden off of shelters so that they have space for dogs in need.
Rescue dogs can be wonderful additions to homes ready to open their hearts to a new member. So many people have found their lives changed in such profound ways that the old saying can still be applied: "Who rescued whom?"
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