Charlie Bear here. It’s my turn now. Mom’s been doing all the talking (about rescue/foster/adoption, how to add a rescue dog to your household, and what “issues” rescue dogs might come with). All good things to know, but I want to explain my side of the story.
First, it’s true. I had some “issues” when I first came to live here. Hey, wouldn’t you if you’d been living on the streets trying to fend off other dogs for every morsel of food you could find? And then there were those guys in khaki uniforms that tried to catch me to put me in a box in their truck. I evaded them by running fast, but it made me wary of being touched. And then there was an issue with spinning and snapping at myself (due to a mass of dried matter on my rear end which hurt like heck).
Anyway, sure, I had issues. Hey, think about it. When two people get married today, don’t they bring baggage (or issues) into a relationship? Don’t they posture for position in the bathroom, decide who’s going to cook and clean, who’s going to write the bills and pay the rent? Don’t they learn how to live together harmoniously? Same with dogs in a new household.
Anyway, enough with the soapbox. I’m here to give you my perspective on things. I’ve been in my new home more than a year now and I’m just over two years old, so I think that gives me the right to say I know it all. Therefore, I have decided I have a moniker: Y2K. Stands for Year-2-Know-it-All. That’s me.
At first, when I came to live here, I couldn’t believe these people really wanted me. And besides that, I was on a two-week probation to see if it would all work out. I should have been on my best behavior, but I wasn’t. I attacked the resident big dog Rex the very first day. What was I thinking!
Anyway, these new Peeps as I came to call them, were patient with me. I don’t know why. Maybe it’s my cuteness (I’ve learned to work it).
We’ll go into more in Part Two. For now, Mom Peep and I have this thing going. Tell us about your rescue/adoption or foster experience in the comments. And then send us a photo of your rescue/adopted dog(s) and Mom will put it on a future blog post. Send the pic to: bj.taylor@verizon.net.
Mom says Hi and Hugs,
and from me, Woofs and Wiggles,
Charlie Bear
NEW RELEASE:
Charlie Bear: What a Headstrong Rescue Dog Taught Me about Life, Love, and Second Chances http://bit.ly/HHI8zs
We’ve adopted two rescue dogs. It’s not always easy but the key is to try to understand what you dogs are saying. Like with people, it’s about communication. And LOVE!
Peggy,
That’s for sure! It’s not always easy. Communication is the key, and I wish we dogs had the means to do that. The only thing I can do is implore with my sweet eyes or paw at my peeps when I want something. I’m learning more subtle ways of communicating though.
Good luck with your new rescue!
Wiggles & woofs,
Charlie Bear
Basically, all of our animals over the year (cats and dogs) have been rescues of one kind or another. We currently have 2 cats and 2 dogs. One of the dogs we adopted from a rescue event held at a pet supply chain. She had been abandoned at a dump, we were told, and was about 1 year old, mixed German shepherd and doberman. We had never had a dog that large before, but she is now 14.5 years old and going strong (vet says he would think she was only 5-6). She never had any bad habits at all that I can recall. Gotta tell you, when we got her, she was our third dog, meaning we already had two dogs and then got her. At that time, all three children were teenagers, and I said that I HAD to have something else that looked at me like it loved me, b/c that sure wasn’t coming from the kids!! Our other dog is a rat terrier/possibly minpin mix that we took in when our nephew got divorced. She had been found as an unclaimed stray at age 1-2, he took her in but no one would take her when they got divorced. She is about 8-9 now, we have had her over 3 years. She is a chewer, so we have adapted to that, and she has a hard time holding her water, so we just fill the upstairs hall with pee pads! She also HATES yelling, dives under the sofa or bed if she hears it. The 15-yr-old cat came to us at 9 months, somebody begged us to take her b/c they had allergies (counts as a “rescue” in my book!), and our 9-yr-old cat we got as a 6-week-old kitten from a “give-away” litter (kinda a rescue, too!). They all get along (or co-exist, is probably more like it) fine. Life is calm and quiet with only furry children left at home! Just lots of fuzz to vacuum!
Ellen,
Wow, the German Shep and Dobie is 14 and 1/2? That’s crazy good! And the little terrier/minpin is 8-9? Great longevity I’d say. Even the cats are long-lifers. What a great collection of “fuzz to vacuum” as you say.
Why not send my mom a picture of any of the rescues (or all of them is even better!!!!). She wants to feature rescue dogs (or cats) in upcoming blog posts. Why not be one of them? Send an attachment pic to bj.taylor@verizon.net.
Wiggles and woofs,
Charlie Bear
Charlie Bear; so glad to hear things are working out so good with your new peeps, they would not let you go anywhere else now for the world and i bet you know it to. I am a rescue dog also and my peeps also love me more than anything. I am the only one here now in the furry kind that is since piper went on that ”forever trip over ‘The Rainbow Bridge'”. I miss her so much but it gets a little better every day. I also had issues when i came here also but guess they loved us enough til we managed to get over most of our issues, my worst ones are bark, bark & barking, but i get so excited sometimes that i do not know anything else to do except to maybe pee on some things she just might send me back to the dog pound again, so i’m trying my best to keep from doing that and i believe she would rather hear me bark if i do not do it too much or too long. Well Charlie Bear you just try to be as good as you can and i’ll talk to you again soon and my peep said she wants to read your book so bad but will just have to wait til she can order and wait for it to come in the mail as it is not availiable in that “Magic Reader Thing” called the Kindle or Nook (wonder where they came up with such names as that? I think “The Electric Or The Battery Reader” would have been better) but they did not ask me to name those contracptions; did they you? bet they didn’t. Well you try to be as good as you can now so you can keep on the bright side of your peeps and i’ll talk again soon on mine.
“Tail Shaking & Woofs To You.”
Bogie Here..
Bogie,
How nice of you to write, but I’m so sorry Piper went over the Rainbow Bridge. Actually, Rex told me all about it in a dream so I know it’s heavenly, but I’ll wait a while (if I have my druthers) about going there anytime soon.
It’s great your mom peep wants to read the new Charlie Bear book. I don’t know when it will be out on a “battery reader” or “electric” thingie. We’ll have to wait and see. For now, good old paper stock I’d say! And it has a great cover (a picture of me of course!).
Woofs & wiggles,
Charlie Bear
Charlie Bear, we’ve never adopted a rescue dog, but my husband brought home a kitty he rescued from his parking lot at work. She came to us as a skinny little calico with lots of spunk. She’s not really skinny anymore, but she has tons of spunk. I’ll send your mom a picture! I ordered your book~~can’t wait to read ALL about you.
xoxo
Julie,
A kitty! Now that’s a horse of a different color. I can’t wait to see your spunky little calico’s picture. And Mom Peep will love her I’m sure.
Thanks for ordering the book. That is SO nice of you.
Wiggles & woofs,
Charlie Bear