Woman in Real Life

I'm officially a dog fostering failure. And this is one instance where I'm happy to fail. When I decided to foster a dog, everybody told me I would want to keep him. But I insisted I could help more dogs by allowing them to move on to other homes.

It turns out my friends and family knew me best. I took one look at sweet little Ace and I fell in love. I defy you to see him and not want to take him home with you. He is that cute. Ace was abandoned, sad and afraid when Our Angels Dog Rescue pulled him out of a pound in Kentucky. (Yes, our little guy is American.) The family who nurtured him before he came to Canada says that he was the most fearful dog they had helped this year. And they have helped lots of dogs.

Ace is so flexible. He can sleep folded in half.

 Whatever Ace suffered at the hands of humans, he is so forgiving. He radiates pure joy and love. In just a few months, he has learned to approach every person or dog he meets with eagerness and affection. He likes to tuck his head right into my armpit when I work on my laptop on the couch. He watches every move we make and he is eager to do the right thing. He requires only a gentle "no" when he picks up a forbidden item in his mouth. He is not the slightest bit defiant.

Ace loves to play. Although he is about a year old, he has a lot of puppy in him. He enjoys taking Jolene's toys right from her mouth. She initially let him do it, but now they have long, silent (and adorable) tug-of-wars. (I may have had a little chat with Jolene about how she is the older woman and needs to let him know she's in charge.)


Jolene wasn't so eager to share her home with another canine. She also had a troubled past. Now she has a family who loves her and she feels safe. But she is coming around to Ace. I think she even enjoys playing with the little guy now and then. Whereas when he arrived at our home, Jolene wouldn't go near him, now she will lie on the couch very close to him (although she grunts a bit if he touches her).


It makes me sad when people say that rescue dogs are harder to manage and train. Dogs, like people, have distinct personalities, preferences and pet peeves. Like anybody who has suffered abuse or grief, these unfortunate creatures need love and attention to heal.

Dogs aren't like fancy cars. They shouldn't be status symbols, purchased to show off to shallow friends. Just as each child is different and some are more challenging than others, no dog is perfect, whether you bought him from a breeder as a puppy or you rescued him as a 2-year-old from the SPCA. They all need training, patience and time. When you adopt a dog in need of a home, not only are you doing a wonderful thing, but you are sure to be rewarded with a new family member who is oh-so-delighted to have a safe and happy home.

Visit petfinder.com to see all the pets (cats and bunnies included) awaiting a good home. You can put in your postal code/zip code to get pets in your area. You can search by breed too, so the fact that you want a particular breed of dog or cat needn't deter you from rescuing.

Brodie Needs A Home!

If you are in the Greater Toronto Area (or elsewhere in Ontario), please have a look at Brodie. Through no fault of his own, this gorgeous collie mix has been overlooked. He has been waiting for months for a forever home. If you have the time to give him the care, exercise and attention he needs, this might be the right guy for you! Are those eyes not incredible? Brodie is currently in a temporary foster home in Kleinburg.

Do you have a pet? What does he or she bring to your life?