Wednesday, January 18, 2012

I hate little dogs. An exploration of dog adoption.

No, really I do.  I hate little dogs.  Yippy, snippy and all the other irritating and irrational "ippy" words you can contrive.  That being said, let's progress.

I love Labradors, Neopolitan Mastiffs, Boxers, Begales, Basset Hounds, Bluetick Coonhounds, English Bulldogs, Weimeraners, and a couple other breeds as well.

Clarification is complete.

Having three (insert a plethora of awesome adjectives here) kids, we want them to have a dog.  The idyllic family dog who can prance, romp, tumble, and snuggle with us and we with it.  The idea of purchasing a dog from a pet store is not an option, we don't support puppy mills.  Adoption.  Let's do it!

So, off to Petfinder we go to explore the adoptable dogs in our area.  There just so happens to be a hound rescue group in our area, in addition to the hundereds of other rescue groups/Humane Societies in our area.  Finding a dog in this area isn't a difficult thing to do.  We absolutely found dogs that tickled our fancy and piled in the Slave III and headed out to pet stores for adoption events to continue our search.

[[[At this point I should mention that the Calumet Area Humane Society had a used book/cd/cassette/dvd/vhs sale, so the reliable Slave III naturally pointed us in that direction.  I walked away with a paper bag full of stuff, but want to make mention of these fantastic finds.  They do have a ladies night out event coming soon, check their website for details!]]]

*smack* FOCUS WOMAN!!  

As much as I love the Humane Society, all the dogs are penned up and agitated, nervous, and bored.  When you mix those emotions into a canine concoction, you get a lot of pacing, barking and jumping and it's difficult not to equate that to aggression, especially for kids.  That being said, nothing really sparked our interest apart from a massive bulldog with minor health issues.  We progressed to the PetSmart in Highland and there was a group holding an adoption event there, however it was only cats...we have a cat...we want a dog.  An employee told us that there would be a group with dogs the next day.  So...yeah...we went home.

The next day we piled back in the Slave III and returned to PetSmart.  And what did we find?  A group right by the entrance holding an adoption event for their dog rescue.  Their very small dogs dog rescue.  Needless to say, the girls went crazy for these "almost dogs" and my husband loves any dog so they immediately darted toward the dogs amid a cacophony of "auh" and "OMG SO CUTE!!!"  My son and I headed to the cat grooming supplies amid a cacophony of "meh" and "there's always next weekend."

A few moments later while browsing waterless shampoo for cats (kitty is neurotic about water) I hear my daughters giggling and whispering with my husband at the end of the aisle.  At first glance I thought they had a small cat, or toy attached to a leash.  Upon further examination I realized it was one of the rescue group's "almost dogs."

"What is that thing?"
"It's a dog."
"Who told you that?"

Que the sob story.  "Mommy her collar was embedded in her neck.  Her ear was slammed in a door!  Another dog chewed on her tail and it had to be docked. And and and and when they were neutering her they found a bb in her chest."

-.-

I hate little dogs.

"Here babe, hold her leash I want to go see something...over there."
"No, take her...I mean it...with you!"
"No no, she can't come over here."

-.-

I hate little dogs.

But she's staring at me.

*grumble grumble*

"Oh my, look at your fur."

She has that weird tiger stripe looking coat.  On a dachshund...it's weird.

"Oh my, look at your poor little ear."

I bend down to look at her gnarled ear...

She jumps in my lap and licks my cheek.

-.-

=]

"Well hi sweetie."

*scratch* *pet*

She jumps down and lays on her back so I can rub her belly.  I oblige.

She looks at my son, who is bent over the cart barking at her to get her attention, and starts spinning in circles.  So I pick her up and he pokes her right in the eye.  She licks his hand and he hugs her face.  He calls her "puppy."

Hubby returns with our daughters to this scene.

I Hate Little Dogs
a screenplay by "DidSheReallySayThat"

INT BRIGHTLY LIT PETSMART STORE (CAT GROOMING/SUPPLIES AISLE)

HUBBY enters from far side with DAUGHTER1 AND DAUGHTER2.
DIDSHEREALLYSAYTHAT stands in the middle of the aisle with LITTLE DOG and SON.

HUBBY stands still with DAUGHTER1 and DAUGHTER2 watching DIDSHEREALLYSAYTHAT

DIDSHEREALLYSAYTHAT is nuzzling the nose of LITTLE DOG and SON carrying LITTLE DOG like a football in her left arm.

DIDSHEREALLYSAYTHAT [muted squeal] 
Whossapuppy.  You are!  Are you so pretty?  Yes you are.  Whosaprettyprettyprettypuppybabygirl?  You are!  Wookit the wittle baby girl with the pretty face.

SON waves at HUBBY 
Hi daddy!

DIDSHEREALLYSAYTHAT puts LITTLE DOG back on the floor and composes herself.

DIDSHEREALLYSAYTHAT
Well, are we ready to go then?

Scene.

I hate little dogs.

Daisy May is not a little dog...
that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Oh, just to clarify, our adoption application is pending.  =]

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