We have so many reasons why to rescue!! We fell into the rescue world by chance when I started volunteering with special needs cats in 2002. We ended up adopting four cats who we still have all these years later in 2014. After meeting my first shelter dog, a 15 year old pit bull mix with an intense love for children, I fell into the rescue world. I saw Tanner's picture on a rescue transport site and knew he was the one. When I first met him, he was hiding in the corner scared of his own shadow. Fast forward almost two years later and although he's still a shy boy, he's made huge strides and is truly my soul pup. When I first saw Scout's picture, I had the same reaction. She was saved from our city shelter by a few volunteers who saw something special in her too. She was only 5 weeks old, taken from her mom too soon by a backyard breeder because she couldn't be sold, and needed some major medical care and she had a deformed foot she couldn't walk on. I brought her home two weeks later.
There are so many reasons I wanted to rescue. First, because of the truly staggering amount of animals put to sleep on a daily basis. Animals that did nothing wrong when their families moved out and left them, had a new baby, or decided they didn't have time anymore. Purebred and mixed breed dogs of all ages, sizes, colors, and temperaments. Second, is to stop the greed of puppy mills, backyard breeders and pet stores who breed dogs for money. Third, is to show people that special needs animals aren't damaged goods. Even though Tanner is shy and Scout has a deformed foot doesn't make them any less deserving of a home! And last, because I think actions speak louder than words. I can tell people rescue dogs rock all day, but Tanner and Scout speak for themselves. When people ask where I got such a well behaved, loving and friendly dog, I can tell them to take a trip to their local shelter to find dogs just like her!