Thursday, February 4, 2010

Pooches: Adopted?!

Our neighbor has got us thinking about how people can state misinformation as if it was a fact. The other day our neighbor stated that there is always something wrong with adopted dogs, which is why they were given up in the first place, referring to Ms. M and Mr. B because they were adopted (Ms. M from New Leash on Life and Mr. B from Kalamazoo Animal Rescue). The funny thing is that her teacup pug that she carries in her arms is always lunging from her arms, growling and barking at Mr. B and Ms. M while they sit quietly and calmly as we let them walk by. It's amazing how people forget that little dogs could be as dangerous as large dogs and need just as much training. (Several years ago, I stepped into the hallway of my old apartment and my neighbor's bichon frise ran up and bit me on the leg. Though my neighbors apologized profusely, it didn't change the fact that their dog was extremely aggressive and attacked the other tenants.) Regardless, it took us by surprise that there are dog owners, rather dog lovers, that are misinformed and overtly proclaim their misinformation to other people. Though we preach the benefits of adopting a dog, especially a bully breed such as a pit bull, we choose to live by example. We love how Ms. M and Mr. B on most occasions listen to us and are great ambassadors for pit bulls and adopted dogs. Though we still have to work with them; on our daily walks, both Ms. M and Mr. B walk on our left and rarely pull on the leash. I am probably anthropomorphizing our pooches, but I feel that they are grateful to be out of the shelter and in a loving home. Several years ago, the thought of adopting a dog never crossed my mind. I have several friends with dogs, and they were either bought from stores or breeders. Just like our neighbor, I believed that adopted dogs were bad dogs. It was not until I met A and Ms. M that I became a proponent for adoption. A is a vocal advocate for adoption and she uses Ms. M and now Mr. B to spread her message. One large issue that we face is that many people in our neighborhood have pit bulls that were bought from backyard breeders. So whenever anyone asks us about the pooches, we always like to throw in the fact that they were adopted, hoping that it would dispel some of the misconceptions about adopted dogs and possibly influence others to consider adoption as their first and only option.

16 comments:

Rescued Pittie Family said...

Your babies are absolutely beautiful - your neighbor is just jealous because they are so pretty and so well behaved and her dog is a class-a brat.
We are the same way - we always tell people that our babies were rescues and where they were rescued from.
Haleigh was taken in by Memphis Pit Bull Safe Haven from a back-yard breeder in Memphis.
Greighson was found dumped in a ditch and taken in by East Mississippi Animal Rescue.
Abbey we rescued off a property here in Tennessee.
And LuLu was rescued by Operation Education - our big sister rescue - and after fostering her we realized there was no way she was leaving our home.
Adopted dogs are like finding diamonds in the rough.
It's exciting and joyful and a wonderful experience for you and the dog.
Buying a dog is like going to Target and picking out new throw pillows for your couch. Very impersonal and not as meaningful.
Be proud of being the kind-hearted people who take in rescues.
There is a special place in heaven for people like you.

Unknown said...

I found your blog through another blog I read and I LOVE reading about Mr. B and Miss M. Such cute poochies and great ambassadors!

Love,
PR
Mom to Flash and Ollie
twocrazycoaches.blogspot.com

Kate said...

That's so great that your dogs can set a good example of what pits and rescued dogs are really like. I've always been a proponent of adoption but I didn't know about backyard breeders until relatively recently. I hope eventually that all of us awesome pittie owners can change some minds about the breed and adoption :)

Dexter said...

Oh yes! There are many wonderful doggies out there for sure. Momma and Master got me a puppy from a good breeder (PeeWee) because they knew how difficult I can be with other doggies and wanted to choose just the right temperment to go with me. So they found really good breeders and met the mom and dad doggie and all the brothers and sisters and then chose PeeWee for specific character traits.


Momma says that when she gets her next doggie that I won't be around anymore (huh?) and she can look for a good orphan dog such as yourselves.

Slobbers,
Mango

Mary said...

OMG. My Daisy is from NLOL and she is an awesome bombproof dog.

Tee said...

Your pups are lovely! Am glad you adopted them.

pibble said...

People don't understand adoption until they drink the kool aid. Then, they can't get enough. Often, they're shocked when they come into our shelter and I tell them that, yes, they CAN adopt purebred dogs. Every breed has a rescue; you don't have to go to a store or a breeder. That's how I found my Border Collie, Aussie, and Parson Russell!

Sometimes, you just want to bang your head against a wall...

But I'm thankful for people like you who are such wonderful breed ambassadors, especially for the misunderstood pups like Pit Bulls. We need many more voices among our ranks!

Princess said...

Great to hear that A made you a convert! It starts with one person. And although I regret not being able to point people the a specific shelter Princess came from. I love saying that she was a 'street dog' that her foster mom rescued. They just can't believe that this pretty pit bull who is so kind, gentle, spoiled, well mannered, and won't walk on wet grass came from a dirt lot where she slept next to oil spills and ate what she could find.
I as well believe that she knows where she came from, how good she has it and doesn't want to go back. I can have the front door wide open and as long as there isn't a person for her to great or play with she could care less about going out it. She's fine with her three dogs beds, 'her' couch and 'her' big human bed, thank.you.very.much! Keep up the good work and preach on!! ;o)

Kari in Alaska said...

we love having adopted dogs and fully agree with the small dog things. Its funny how much more the DH notices that people get away with so much more if they have little dogs now that he is walking arounf with BC

dw said...

Oh my what cute pictures! Especially the little head rest on the stuffie! I never really thought pitties were dogs I'd even want to associate with until I met my cousin's two adopted pitties. He lives just outside of Dallas and has Jack and Shadow who are wonderful dogs. I did look online at some of the adoptable pitties, but I did want a dog a little smaller. Thanks for adopting your two pitties. I adopted my little puggie, being fairly persistent that I wanted to get an adopted one. Giving a dog a home, one that they can feel comfortable in and loved in makes all the difference in their lives and they normally reflect it. My little Rainy has such a sweet and loving disposition and now has the forever home to go with that.

Bobby said...

Hi, Thanks for dropping by, I have fostered so many dogs now, and I have never had a bad one, so that lady is talking rubbish, quite the opposite I have had dogs it has broken my heart to part with. But there is always more needing help. I foster for pawzforthought.org. Bobby had been in kennels for a year when pawz got involved and he was so awful nobody would have him. He had been very badly beaten discs out in his spine broken bones either side of his head. I took him out of the kennels and I knew there was a nice dog in him somewhere. He trusts me so much now, he puts up with every dog that comes in.

kissa-bull said...

adopted dogs i've found are just so grateful to have food and shelter and love they are the most well behaved dogs in my experience

Anonymous said...

Hi there! Thanks for stopping by at my blog. You have 2 absolutely gorgeous rescue dogs!!!

When my mom was reading your post she was thinking the whole time - "That sounds so familiar!" We believe that every dog is a nice dog it is the owner who has the issues. And what annoys us about small dog owners is that they think it is ok for their dogs to be aggressive because they are only small... I'm a good dog, if they bark I walk away but there is no guarantee. And when my mom said to one of those owners the other day that it is not about size and if she (shorter and a lot less sporty than my mom) would attack her right now, right here after a while she might loose her temper and win. The same goes for dogs. So please would you mind calling your dog back? The lady got very very angry!! I wasn't doing anything just standing there looking unhappy but I was the bad dog because I'm big(ish) and black and there is some pittie in me... Stupid world!

Slobbers from Down Under Teal'c

Mary said...

I am very sensitive about this topic because it's so easy for me to get enraged. I hate to hear people say, "I'm going to buy a dog." I wish I could take people to the shelter I volunteer at and SHOW them all the wonderful dogs just waiting for their forever homes. Explain to them that dogs from rescue groups are often in foster and are crate-trained, house-trained, know basic commands when you adopt them. I also believe that dogs are grateful when you give them a second chance at life, even if it sounds silly.

Thank you for writing about your spectacular dogs and spreading the word about adoption and shedding a positive light on bully breeds!

Jenn said...

Some adoptees do come with issues, but a reputable shelter will let you know that. We adopted our first dog and he was perfect from the beginning.

With our second dog, a ten pound terrier, we were carefully screened - humans and dogs - and given lots of information about his quirks.

And he had quirks. Five years later we are about to compete in our second agility competition this weekend, and he's got me addicted to agility. This is a GOOD thing.

He may never get his Canine Good Citizen award, but he's got me at his back and we are having fun!

Jenn said...
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