A recent trip to a local animal shelter made me realize how many dogs there are in desperate need of a good home. If we could all adopt a puppy, I think the world would be a much better place, and for more reasons than one.
Seeing so many dogs in those little cages completely broke my heart. As I was walking down a particular hallway, six of the eight dogs were puppies and I began to wonder how long they would live.
As I passed each cage, they would all look at me and start wagging their tails and whining. It was almost as if they sensed their impending doom and begged to be rescued. I decided right then and there that I was going to help make a difference and adopt a puppy.
Several years ago, I adopted a Scottish Terrier/Lhasa Apso mix and named him Mickey. He was a feisty little guy, but he was also very loving and protective. It took me a while to gain his trust, as sometimes happens when you adopt a puppy, but before long we were the best of friends.
I had Mickey for almost 15 years before he passed away, and I was very hurt when he died. He enriched my life in so many ways and his love was unconditional.
That’s one of the best things about dogs: they love you no matter what. I got Mickey when he was a teenager and I learned a lot from having him.
Having a dog taught me a sense of responsibility, because he was completely dependent on me to provide for him.
I was also very active with him, because he was so full of energy and life. When we would go out in the backyard, we would sometimes play for hours. We are tied to a level that is hard to find in any other part of life.
When my son wanted to adopt a puppy a few months ago, I was overjoyed. There was no “let’s think about it” because my wife and I knew all the wonderful things that come from owning a dog. We told him we could, but we had to go to the pound and pick one out, not the local pet store.
It was hard for my son to see all the puppies lined up, just like it was for me, and it made me feel good that he had developed such a sense of compassion. Although he wanted to adopt them all, he finally chose one and we brought him home. His name is Roscoe.