Not a rescue puppy....

[Kyoko]

I am a volunteer dog walker at the local animal shelter. Yesterday was our really big to do black and white event as a fund raiser. People were bidding thousands of dollars on Pittsburgh Penguines' autographed jerseys, hocky stick, plus all kinds of fancy food, band, and all of that.
While voluntering at the event, the conversation went to how many and what kind of dogs we had.
One of the peer volunteer said to me " I didn't know that you had a puppy. Where did you get your puppy?" I didn't know what to say. I did tell them that Charlie was from the breeder and reason why I went that route. I still got chewed up... and was told " I hope you didn't go to PetLand for the hybred! " I do care for the animals at the shelter, and I do my best to provide what I can for them. I try teaching the leash walking, I bath, brush and trim them, walk them hours in the middle of the winter with snow piling up on my head, whatever I can to make them more adoptable, I do. I thought I made a good decision that rescue is not going to work - at least for right now because of the personality of my old Chow Chow and the fact he is not neutered ( due to my ignorance in earlier time and too old to go through now) plus I went through some fear phase of thoughts that he is not going to make it through the winter, and felt as needing a second dog in preparation to ease the event if occur as soon as possible.....

Sorry, It may sounds like I am trying to justify my decision. But I always feel guilty that my puppy is not a rescue.

[Jeannine]

Andy,
Not knowing something is not stupid, what it is is when you know, somebody else tell you and decide not acting the way you should... that is stupidity.
What you did for Mariner and what Lynne did for Magic is acting with your heart and knowledge and take responsibility were even your both breeder did not. They were stupid not you, not Lynne. You both save the life of two wonderful dogs! That brilliant!!

[Lynne Fowler-Oodles of Doodles]

Awhhhhh................

[Jeannine]

Thank you! It was a pleasure!

[AndySharon BoomerShaynaMariner]

I would like to explain a little.

We all do what we feel we have to do. Sometimes the decision is not easy. Samantha (our daughter, then 12) was the first one in our family that said we should adopt Mariner, I was easily convinced. Sharon, DW, was the one that had to be convinced, she would be the primary caregiver. She was unsure, until we talked to our vet who was very reassuring. He said worst case would be that if it didn't work out - his fate would be better perhaps rehome or if he as to be put on he would have had some additional time. Also, we did not know Mariner was having seizures. Sharon and Samantha drove from NJ to NC to pick Mariner up Samantha held Mariner on the ride home.

Alex our son was 15 at the time - he was against us getting Mariner. Alex cann't bear to see anything suffer. He avoided Mariner for a couple of weeks. After that Alex soon became Mariner's biggest supporter. All the dogs love Alex.

Mariner has taught both of our children valuable lessons. Mariner quickly learned to navigate the house although he was blind and when his vision started coming back they learned how miraculously life can be and how even if you have a disability you can overcome it.

Mariner has given us so much love and taught us about life.

I would also like to clarify that his breeder - Bill & Betty (formerly of NC) gave him great care after his accident - having him in doggy ICU for days - a neurologist, etc - they did spend a lot of money on a dog that they would never be able to sell. Only when it became obvious that they were unable to care for him for the long term did they make the decision that either someone would have to adopt him or he would have to be put to sleep.

We really had no choice but to adopt him, how could we let hm be put to sleep.

Sorry for the long post.

Andy

[Jeannine]

The only reason you should apologize for is for the tears running from my eyes. Having a terrible headache now, those tears will not help!
Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful story.
It always amaze me how much we can learn from an animal. Sometime i think human have less heart and understanding than dogs ans cats and other species

Everyone from your home are lucky. Mariner to have find the way of all your hearts and you to have fond him.

[Kyoko]

This makes me want to tell you about my old Chow Chow - Butter.
He came to us about 13 years ago at 9 ~ 10 months old.
My children's father who lived out of state was in town, stopped by at our house to ask if I would keep this dog over night because the person who he was visiting lives in an apartment that does not permitt dogs. I said sure. And that was it. He has been with us for 13 years now.
He has given us much joy, love and everything else.

[Jeannine]

What a lovely photo Kyoko!

Can you see how much they love each other?

[Lynne Fowler-Oodles of Doodles]

Kyoko, it is a sweet photo and even more amazing that that person never came back for him. You ARE a Rescue Angel!

[Lynne Fowler-Oodles of Doodles]

Andy, it's 5:19 am and tears are streaming down my face. AND, I knew Mariner's stories. What a beautiful thing to teach your children! Mariner's story teaches many of us, too. Your family and Mariner are blessed to have found each other.

[Kyoko]

And if you have not, I would not have learned all about the commercial food good, bad and ugly!! :-)
I guess god knows what he is doing....

[Jeannine]

I think He does... but human do not!

[Tricia, Shiloh, Fenway & Tessie]

Shiloh is not a rescue, we got him from a breeder. I never even considered getting a doodle from a rescue....I was one of the people that assumed there are no doodles in rescue, I mean, they are so expensive, why would there ever be any in rescue. I was just ignorant about it. After getting Shiloh, I joined doodlekisses. We were already talking to the breeder that we were going to get our 2nd doodle from, our Fenway...who would have come from a breeder....instead, Jacque sent out a post about three rescue doodle puppies in a shelter about 4.5 hours away from me. Ironically, about 20 minutes from where we were going to go meet the litter of puppies that Fenway would have been from. We hopped in the car, went to save him...the place was awful, just really really awful. I wished I could have taken his two brothers out of there, too. They did get picked up by a rescue group...or I would have figured out a way to take all three. That experience opened my eyes to a lot of things. It also opened my 16yr old daughter's eyes, too. She now goes to our local shelter and volunteers. I do not feel guilty that Shiloh is from a breeder...he is the reason we now have our Fenway...and my goodness do they ever love each other! The whole thing was amazingly rewarding.