President-Elect Barack Obama and his wife Michelle promised their daughters that when the election was over they would get a dog and it looks like they plan to adopt a rescue dog. Yea!
They were favoring a Goldendoodle, but several animal welfare groups urged the Obamas to adopt a dog rather than get a dog from a breeder. The future First Family could still get a Goldendoodle through a breed rescue group. A poll on DailKos shows people think the Obamas should get a mutt—it’s winning with 43% of the vote. You can vote too.
How do you think you housetrain a dog in the White House???
Adopt-A-Dog Month is a great time to consider adopting a shelter dog. There are dogs of all shapes, sizes, and energy levels waiting to be rescued. You can even adopt a pure breed dog, but mixed breed dogs are just as wonderful.
Make sure you’re ready to adopt and adopt a dog suited to your lifestyle. All dogs need attention and training. Here’s a good list of things to consider before adopting a dog.
The ASPCA has great tips on preparing for a new dog.
And don’t automatically go for the puppies. Here are 17 excellent reasons to adopt an adult dog. I love puppies–who doesn’t–but, I’m so glad we adopted an adult dog. Our dog Saffron was just as fun as a puppy, without all the extra chaos and destruction.
Maybe this is the month you save a life and enrich your own!
I have fallen in love with the itty bitty kitty committee. First—the name is perfection. Second—it has consistently outstanding kitten photos, not schmaltzy and you can just about hear them purring and feel their warm kitten tummies. Third—it’s excellent blogging about the joys and sometimes sorrows of fostering kittens. And, it turns out, Laurie has a shop, lalalaurie, on etsy.com and you know how I love etsy. There’s even a post about crafting with kittens.
The IBKC takes in kittens and their mom, if they’re together, for the Tacoma/Pierce County Humane Society to raise, socialize, and love until they’re ready for adoption. Very cool! Check with your local shelter if you’re interested in fostering kittens. As the summer progresses, shelters will be overflowing with kittens. It takes commitment, but it’s a wonderful thing.
Charlene Butterbean is the resident cat and supreme Big Sister who loves the kittens and seems to take her roll quite seriously, well, maybe not always that seriously.
Images used with permission of the Itty Bitty Kitty Committee.
