I've adopted several - and each experience has been different, but one overall guiding principle sticks out with regards to adopting...well, two:

1. Patience. Just be patient.

2. Love. LOVE that pup...cuz he/she will love YOU unconditionally!

We adopted our furchild, Macy, in November of 2008 after being with out a pet for over a year. She had been abused and surrendered by a previous owner, spent months in the shelter and then was in a foster home. When we met her, she was full of energy and had a great spirit, but moments of timidness. With lots of love, socializing and patience, she has become the most loving and obidient dog. We could not be happier that everything worked the way it did and that there are programs and good people who don't give up on dogs that may have issues.

I'm embarrassed to say I had no knowledge of breed-specific rescue before we started looking for a doberman to adopt. Thank goodness a neighbor politely suggested it, or we probably would've gotten a puppy (perish the thought!). The first girl we adopted was an older dobe whose person had died. We learned soon after that she had mast cell cancer, so we had her for less than a year. She was a sweetheart and everyone loved her. I smile to think of her circulating at a Christmas party and everyone looking at everyone else wondering "who farted."

Our second dobe girl was a backyard breeder who fortunately ended up with a breed rescue group. She showed us her tummy as soon as we walked through the foster home's door. She rode home with us several hours hanging her head; couldn't figure out if she was petrified or was going to throw up. She had a variety of health problems over the years, and never cottoned to visitors/strangers, but she was a velcro dog to both my husband and me. After she died I felt a big hole in my life. WHEN she died, at home at Thanksgiving, she turned around and growled fiercely at *something* only she could see. Made me think a little harder about what comes "after."

Next came greyhound #1, another girl. I don't know that we ever really discussed it, but think we got girls to avoid the "marking" issue. Ellie took almost 2 months to settle in, making me worry she really wasn't happy with us. We let her decide when she is ready to be "lovey dovey," as she likes to curl up in the corner and be superior much of the time. Haha.

After Ellie we lucked into a boy doberman whose mom was faced with taking him to the animal shelter. He is such a sweetheart, I was in some hot water when I took him in but he soon won over the spouse. Now that I've had a boy dog, I don't think I would purposefully look for a female again. I know everyone is different but the boys seem more reliably laid-back.

Having said that, we failed fostering with Annie, our second greyhound. She fit in so well with Ellie and Timmy, and she was a senior and had been through so much, that I couldn't let her go. Took some wheedling with that one too... She's 11 and is a huge goof. She has taught Timmy and Ellie to sing/roo, and gently takes over the sofa until we forget how we end up on the floor.

To steal Forrest Gump's line, adoption is like a box of chocolates.

I have always been a fan of rescues and shelters and was finally able to get my own rescue early this year! I'd been volunteering with a local rescue who does great work with Pit Bulls. I saw a picture posted online of two little pups, about 4-5 weeks old. My heart melted! I immediately emailed our director and asked if I could claim the one in the back of the pictures with the white nose. . .I'd always wanted a girl keep in mind. My director agreed and informed me that it was a boy. I was dissapointed at first, but she reassured me that he was the pick of the litter, even if he was the runt. She said he was sweet and not as 'bossy' as his sister!

A few weeks later I was able to bring the bouncing baby boy home! I was elated! He has been nothing but amazing, as a dog and as a pit. I have to say, he is a great example of what a rescue dog can bring to a family, couple or individual. He's loyal and sweet (I'm not sure he realizes the difference between dogs and cats yet...) and is the center of my world. We bonded in a way I'm not sure humans can when they pick up a puppy from a breeder. This little guy went through who knows what to come to the rescue alive, and I thank God every day for his little wet nose and his crazy large ears :) I wouldn't give him up for the world! Thank you for posting this blog, I love to read about other successful or positive rescue/adoption stories!

i also adopted a pit. a sweet little brindle girl, with the long-face genes. she was so small then, her rump on my chest and her head on my shoulder. i asked every dog in that shelter "are you Yun QI?"* the other dogs either stared or wagged, or cowered, but YunQi, she went NUTS and barreled out into my arms, her already muscular frame easily knocking me on my heels. she was in my house less than an hour later. she's about to turn four, and has calmed down quite a bit, but still gets so excited she darn near tears the wall down! Shes an absolute darling, who loves to sleep on the floor at my wife's side, in a little blanket-bed she made for her, but she knows she's daddy's girl. she is quick to hop into your lap, at 45-50lbs, and will lick your face** until you no longer need to exfoliate. She's been a wonderful dog, but even as sweet as she is, quite a few people are initially quite fightened of her. she quickly wins them over by giving them big kisses and curling up on their feet with her 5th "unchewable" bone of the month.

*- (say: munchy, but with a y for the m.)
**- (or your arm, or your leg, the couch, you get the idea, she's affectionate)

i also adopted a pit. a sweet little brindle girl, with the long-face genes. she was so small then, her rump on my chest and her head on my shoulder. i asked every dog in that shelter "are you Yun QI?"* the other dogs either stared or wagged, or cowered, but YunQi, she went NUTS and barreled out into my arms, her already muscular frame easily knocking me on my heels. she was in my house less than an hour later. she's about to turn four, and has calmed down quite a bit, but still gets so excited she darn near tears the wall down! Shes an absolute darling, who loves to sleep on the floor at my wife's side, in a little blanket-bed she made for her, but she knows she's daddy's girl. she is quick to hop into your lap, at 45-50lbs, and will lick your face** until you no longer need to exfoliate. She's been a wonderful dog, but even as sweet as she is, quite a few people are initially quite fightened of her. she quickly wins them over by giving them big kisses and curling up on their feet with her 5th "unchewable" bone of the month.

you can find pictures of her on @twitpic by looking up my twitter name @thatbrodude

*- (say: munchy, but with a y for the m.)
**- (or your arm, or your leg, the couch, you get the idea, she's affectionate)

I adopted Hurley about a month ago, my very first dog! He had been found at a high kill shelter after wandering the streets and being attacked by a pack of other stray dogs. He was thin, beat up, and had heartworms. Fortunately for both of us, a rescue worker took him in and fostered him for several weeks, restoring him to health and beginning to socialize him. When I met him, he was beautiful and healthy, though still very skittish and shy.

The first few days I had him home, I was really afraid that I had made a mistake. Hurley would not look at me, would not eat, was always trying to get away from me on walks, and whenever we were home stayed in his crate away from me. Anytime I tried to pet him, he would jump away in fear. It broke my heart. I cried a lot those first few days, unsure if he would ever trust me. Finally, though, I got him to eat one morning, and my tears were only of happiness after that. Slowly but surely, he began to trust me more, venturing out of his crate a little bit at a time, watching me from a distance. Over the weeks, the distance between us shrank. Now I am absolutely amazed at the progress he has made! Just yesterday I invited him to sit on the couch with me, and he lay there with his head in my lap as I began to pet him, watching me with such love and trust in his eyes. Usually he prefers his dog bed just a few feet from the couch, but he will cuddle with me on occasion.

I honestly feel like I got the best dog imaginable for me. He is gentle and smart, funny and playful. He loves to go on walks with me now, and does very well on his leash, never pulling me. I have been doing some training with him at home, and he is picking up on some of the commands pretty well, especially when there are treats involved! We will be starting a basic obedience class soon. Once Hurley became comfortable with me, I started socializing him with other people and dogs. He sat in the hallway and observed us when I had some friends over one night, and even let some of them pet him when they plied him with treats. We have been to the beach, a few different parks, playdates with my friend's dogs, and even Red's on Shem Creek. He has done better than I could have imagined. He is still a little nervous in new situations, but is coming out of his shell more and more. I'm so proud of him!

I would recommend adoption to anyone looking for a great pet. I'm sure they're not all as good as Hurley, :-) and it does take extra effort and patience, but the rewards more than make up for it. There's nothing in the world I would trade for my furry friend, and I think things will only get better with time.

my fiance and i lost our english mastiff in fall of 2010. it was only a week before we were due to open our restaurant. he would have been five on new year's day. in january i decided to submit an application to the great dane/mastiff rescue group. almost immediately i heard back from a smaller rescue group "waters edge rescue". they had Gunner, a 2 year old and Rupert a five year old dane. after a couple of day trips and an over-nighter, we fell in love with Rupert(now Archer). he has been the most magnificent companion. he was given up by two people going through a divorce and they apparently could not decide who would "get him" . their loss, our HUGE gain! adoption and fostering are definitely the way to go! so many precious babies overlooked because they did not come from a "breeder" or pound puppies are always sick.......not good excuses in my book. keep up the good work lowcountry dog!

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