[Greg Quinn]

I'm from Edmonton Altenweg, and we went to the SPCA... We also fell in love with boots, but it was recommended that he be with a family with older children, my daughter is 3 and loves to wrestle with puppies. She trusts them fully and wouldn't understand not to pull a tail or hull on a collar. Its so sad to see Boot's is still not adopted. That's eight years of wisdom in that old puppy. Just wanted you to know that we know how you feel. Right now we have a golden retriever cross G lab, a parrot and a cat we saved from there that we are trying to find a home for. This poor kitty is living in our basement, we keep an ad out for people to adopt the little girl, but she's 5 years old and with all the free kittens out there, it's a lost cause. You can post an ad on Kijiji Edmonton Classifieds: Free Classified Ads for Edmonton, Alberta and I bet you may find him a home in a week. Just tell the same story you did here. Go to Free pets and it's that easy. Anybody looking for an almost free dog will see your ad! And I'll keep working on this dog hating cat.

[Chameleon]

Just a suggestion... if you could swing it, pay his adoption fee. We got one of our cats this way. I want to volunteer at our local shelter, but have been forbidden because I'd come home with every animal in the place. Plus I'd be crying every night. If you knit, crochet, or sew, you could make some pet snuggies. I have the pattern sites some where. My email should be on my profile. Send me a line and when I find my links, I'll send them to you. If you don't, maybe a local church group does, or maybe senior citizens in a retirement home could. Then donate them. I hope boots finds a good home.

[Alty]

Gregg Quinn - Great Idea, I'll look into it. I wrote the SPCA last week and asked if there was anything I could do for boots, a new doggy bed, chew toys or even allowing me to come in and sit with him, pet him, give him some of my time, they haven't written me back yet. My kids are 5 and 9 and I have two dogs already, otherwise I would adopt Boots in a second. I hope you find a home for your kitty, my husband and son are both allergic otherwise I would adopt a cat too. We are thinking of adopting another rabbit next month (we already have 3) they are hard to place and usually end up being returned to the pound because people have no idea how to handle them or train them. Good luck, maybe I'll see you at the SPCA one day.:)

[Alty]

just a suggestion...if you could swing it, pay his adoption fee. we got one of our cats this way. I want to volunteer at our local shelter, but have been forbidden b/c i'd come home with every animal in the place. plus I'd be crying every night. If you knit, crochet, or sew, you could make some pet snuggies. I have the pattern sites some where. My email should be on my profile. send me a line and when I find my links, i'll send them to you. if you don't, maybe a local church group does, or maybe senior citizens in a retirement home could. then donate them. I hope boots finds a good home.

I actually found a great pattern for a doggie bed and I'm buying the material this weekend, I'll make as many as I can and bring them to the SPCA when I'm done. I know how you feel about volunteering, I'd have to get a bigger house or an acreage because I'd end up with a shelter full of animals at home. I checked the site again and Boots is still there, poor old guy I hope he finds a home soon.

[Alty]

I started a new post with this story by Jim Willis, I thought I'd put it here too. Warning, if you love animals it will make you cry.

How Could You?by Jim Willis
When I was a puppy, I entertained you with my antics and made you laugh. You called me your child, and despite a number of chewed shoes and a couple of murdered throw pillows, I became your best friend. Whenever I was "bad," you'd shake your finger at me and ask "How could you?" - but then you'd relent, and roll me over for a bellyrub. My housebreaking took a little longer than expected, because you were terribly busy, but we worked on that together. I remember those nights of nuzzling you in bed and listening to your confidences and secret dreams, and I believed that life could not be any more perfect. We went for long walks and runs in the park, car rides, stops for ice cream (I only got the cone because "ice cream is bad for dogs," you said), and I took long naps in the sun waiting for you to come home at the end of the day. Gradually, you began spending more time at work and on your career, and more time searching for a human mate. I waited for you patiently, comforted you through heartbreaks and disappointments, never chided you about bad decisions, and romped with glee at your homecomings, and when you fell in love. She, now your wife, is not a "dog person" - still I welcomed her into our home, tried to show her affection, and obeyed her. I was happy because you were happy. Then the human babies came along and I shared your excitement. I was fascinated by their pinkness, how they smelled, and I wanted to mother them, too. Only she and you worried that I might hurt them, and I spent most of my time banished to another room, or to a dog crate. Oh, how I wanted to love them, but I became a "prisoner of love." As they began to grow, I became their friend. They clung to my fur and pulled themselves up on wobbly legs, poked fingers in my eyes, investigated my ears, and gave me kisses on my nose. I loved everything about them and their touch - because your touch was now so infrequent - and I would have defended them with my life if need be. I would sneak into their beds and listen to their worries and secret dreams, and together we waited for the sound of your car in the driveway. There had been a time, when others asked you if you had a dog, that you produced a photo of me from your wallet and told them stories about me. These past few years, you just answered "yes" and changed the subject. I had gone from being "your dog" to "just a dog," and you resented every expenditure on my behalf. Now, you have a new career opportunity in another city, and you and they will be moving to an apartment that does not allow pets. You've made the right decision for your "family," but there was a time when I was your only family. I was excited about the car ride until we arrived at the animal shelter. It smelled of dogs and cats, of fear, of hopelessness. You filled out the paperwork and said "I know you will find a good home for her." They shrugged and gave you a pained look. They understand the realities facing a middle-aged dog, even one with "papers." You had to pry your son's fingers loose from my collar as he screamed "No, Daddy! Please don't let them take my dog!" And I worried for him, and what lessons you had just taught him about friendship and loyalty, about love and responsibility, and about respect for all life. You gave me a goodbye pat on the head, avoided my eyes, and politely refused to take my collar and leash with you. You had a deadline to meet and now I have one, too. After you left, the two nice ladies said you probably knew about your upcoming move months ago and made no attempt to find me another good home. They shook their heads and asked "How could you?" They are as attentive to us here in the shelter as their busy schedules allow. They feed us, of course, but I lost my appetite days ago. At first, whenever anyone passed my pen, I rushed to the front, hoping it was you - that you had changed your mind - that this was all a bad dream... or I hoped it would at least be someone who cared, anyone who might save me. When I realized I could not compete with the frolicking for attention of happy puppies, oblivious to their own fate, I retreated to a far corner and waited. I heard her footsteps as she came for me at the end of the day, and I padded along the aisle after her to a separate room. A blissfully quiet room. She placed me on the table and rubbed my ears, and told me not to worry. My heart pounded in anticipation of what was to come, but there was also a sense of relief. The prisoner of love had run out of days. As is my nature, I was more concerned about her. The burden which she bears weighs heavily on her, and I know that, the same way I knew your every mood. She gently placed a tourniquet around my foreleg as a tear ran down her cheek. I licked her hand in the same way I used to comfort you so many years ago. She expertly slid the hypodermic needle into my vein. As I felt the sting and the cool liquid coursing through my body, I lay down sleepily, looked into her kind eyes and murmured "How could you?" Perhaps because she understood my dogspeak, she said "I'm so sorry." She hugged me, and hurriedly explained it was her job to make sure I went to a better place, where I wouldn't be ignored or abused or abandoned, or have to fend for myself - a place of love and light so very different from this earthly place. And with my last bit of energy, I tried to convey to her with a thump of my tail that my "How could you?" was not directed at her. It was you, My Beloved Master, I was thinking of. I will think of you and wait for you forever. May everyone in your life continue to show you so much loyalty. The End


Copyright Jim Willis 2001 A note from the author: If "How Could You?" brought tears to your eyes as you read it, as it did to mine as I wrote it, it is because it is the composite story of the millions of formerly owned pets who die each year in America's shelters. Anyone is welcome to distribute the essay for a non-commercial purpose, as long as it is properly attributed with the copyright notice. Please use it to help educate, on your websites, in newsletters, on animal shelter and vet office bulletin boards. I appreciate receiving copies of newsletters which reprint "How Could You?" or "The Animals' Savior," sent to me at the last postal address below. Tell the public that the decision to add a pet to the family is an important one for life, that animals deserve our love and sensible care, that finding another appropriate home for your animal is your responsibility and any local humane society or animal welfare league can offer you good advice, and that all life is precious. Please do your part to stop the killing, and encourage all spay & neuter campaigns in order to prevent unwanted animals. If you are a member of an animal welfare organization, I encourage you to participate in the Spay/Neuter Billboard Campaign from ISAR (International Society for Animal Rights); for more information, please visit: www.i-s-a-r.com Thank you,Jim WillisDirector, The Tiergarten Sanctuary Trust,accredited member of The American Sanctuary Association,and Program Coordinator, International Society for Animal Rightse-mail: [email protected]

[METERRE]

As I read it... I couldn't stop my tears. Knowing I have a dog that needs me or someone who cares about him and is loyal to him as he is to us. I sure would never want him to go through that.

[Chameleon]

I actually found a great pattern for a doggie bed and I'm buying the material this weekend, I'll make as many as I can and bring them to the SPCA when I'm done. I know how you feel about volunteering, I'd have to get a bigger house or an acreage because I'd end up with a shelter full of animals at home. I checked the site again and Boots is still there, poor old guy I hope he finds a home soon.

3 ferrets
1 rabbit
1 tortiouse
3 dogs
1 chinchilla
8 cats
Love my furbabies

[Alty]

3 ferrets
1 rabbit
1 tortiouse
3 dogs
1 chinchilla
8 cats
love my furbabies

Wow, congratulations:). We are thinking about adopting another rabbit in the spring, that would bring us up to 4, were we live you are only allowed 2 dogs per household, otherwise I would get another. I also love cats but cannot have any because my son and husband are both allergic. Never had a chinchilla or a tortiouse or ferrets for that matter. I think it's great that you have provided a loving home for so many animals.:)

[Alty]

Alert!

Boots is gone. I checked the Edmonton Humane Society website and Boots isn't there anymore. I tried calling to find out if he's been adopted but all I kept getting was a machine. I emailed them but I haven't gotten a response.

I hope that he found a home and that they didn't end up euthanizing him. He's been there so long, I got used to seeing his face on their site everyday and now I'm worried that the worst has happened.

I just thought I'd let you all know. I hope he's okay.