AUTHOR: Marty, a.k.a. canape TITLE: More puppy to love DATE: 12/17/2007 10:07:00 AM ----- BODY:

This morning, I'm typing this while sharing the couch with a 90 pound chocolate lab named Gibson.

On Saturday, Guy and I went to PetSmart to buy guinea pig food and came home with a chocolate lab. As CGF said in an email, "That was one hungry guinea pig!" She cracks me up.

It's a simple story of boy meets dog, boy falls for dog, dog comes home with boy. I couldn't stand in the way of that.

After all the fostering I have done for English Setter rescue, it never dawned on me how important the work really was. In my mind, I was just providing a home for a dog until he could be adopted. Saving a life.

I never realized that the family getting the dog was getting much more than just the dog. They were getting a dog that had learned to live indoors. Learned to live with other dogs. Been tested with children. Been trained to walk on a leash. Been housebroken.

That's a pretty good deal, people.

Gibson is an older dog. His paperwork says 3-4, but we are thinking more 4-5 at least. He is neutered, been through heartworm treatment, crate trained, good with other dogs, and his foster home had children there that he absolutely adored.

To top it all off, his foster mom called us Saturday night just to see how he was doing. I just can't say enough about how awesome it is to bring your pets home through a rescue program.

What started off as a "meet our new dog" post has obviously turned into a "please adopt your dog before you haul off and buy a puppy" post.

Many county animal shelters are moving towards using foster homes, giving you that head start on training your new pet. There are also rescues if you have your heart set on a specific breed. You really can find the right pet through adoption.

If you want the story of Gibson and Guy, you can go read his words. They are so incredibly cute together. Gibson is Guy's little, make that really big and slobbery, Christmas miracle.

Labels: Guy and Me, Pups, Warm Fuzzies

----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

MamaGeek @ Works For Us DATE:Monday, December 17, 2007 at 11:14:00 AM EST Oh Canape, just when I thought I couldn't puffy heart you any MORE.

He is awesome. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

Jessica DATE:Monday, December 17, 2007 at 11:30:00 AM EST awwww! Good for guy! Now HE has a pup of his very own! :) Yay Guy! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

Steph DATE:Monday, December 17, 2007 at 4:40:00 PM EST Yay for you guys!! We really want to rescue a Dane once we get into a house and get more settled! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

Stella DATE:Monday, December 17, 2007 at 5:03:00 PM EST I couldn't agree more about rescue dogs! I've been dying for a dog- just what we need in our two kid household. If we do ever get one, I would like an older one from a rescue group. What a wonderful thing!!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

No Minimom DATE:Monday, December 17, 2007 at 6:06:00 PM EST What a pretty puppy! Glad Guy found a furry friend of his own. ;-) ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

Stimey DATE:Monday, December 17, 2007 at 8:22:00 PM EST Congratulations! Your new pup-baby is adorable! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

Melissa DATE:Tuesday, December 18, 2007 at 12:30:00 AM EST Congrats on the new addition! All of my furbabies are hand-me-downs :-) They are the best! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

Chick DATE:Tuesday, December 18, 2007 at 9:54:00 AM EST congratulations! I am a big fan of doggie rescue. I got my precious Gus - a basset hound - as a rescue dog about 9 years ago and he's a true prince ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

Kendra DATE:Tuesday, December 18, 2007 at 10:43:00 AM EST Congratulations! I'm glad someone else feels the same way about rescue dogs that I do. We love our rescue dog! I can't see myself ever getting dog anyplace else. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

Bubblewench DATE:Wednesday, December 19, 2007 at 10:47:00 AM EST That's adorable! A super nice Christmas pressie for Guy! ----- --------