How has your pet motivated you?
The other day I saw this picture and immediately thought, “I wonder how much this dog has changed the lives of those who adopted him?”
Do you remember Daniel’s story?
Daniel was the dog who went into a gas chamber in Alabama and was still standing with his tail wagging when they opened the door. Because he survived the gas chamber he was given a chance at life. He was transported by Pilots N Paws to a rescue in New Jersey.
What a long way he has come since that story first hit the internet. Daniel now has a new family in New Jersey and several sisters and brothers to play with. He is also working to end the use of gas chambers to kill animals in the United States.
Who could have ever guessed that his survival would lead to such a wonderful ending? Or that it would motivate his owner, and others, to take action?
Daniel’s story made me realize how much my own dogs have changed my life.
When I chose to adopt Daisy, my Lab, I did it to protect her. I didn’t want her to go to a home or family that might not understand her special needs. Even with my limited skills and knowledge, I knew I could provide her with a better home than someone who had never had a dog before or who had never had a shy and fearful dog.
Never once did I think adopting Daisy would lead me to get educated about puppy mills or to share that knowledge with others. I never expected sharing Daisy’s story might help others with puppy mill dogs. She has changed my life and what is important to me. She motivated me to get involved.
Daisy enjoying some pool time – something she never would have experienced in the puppy mill she came from
Knowing Jasper came from similar circumstances only made me more motivated to learn more about the connection between the pet stores who sell puppies and the puppy mills that provide them. (Yes. 99% of all pet store puppies really do come from puppy mills.)
Lady changed my life too. Losing her for 12 days not only taught the importance of giving back and helping others (because lord knows I received an amazing amount off help and support while she was missing), but it also motivated me to want to share what I learned with others. Without Lady, I never would have gotten involved in helping people find their lost pets or sharing their missing pets’ pictures and stories with others.
I don’t know if you have had the same experience, but having Daisy, Jasper and Lady in my life has changed me. They have given me causes to rally around. They have motivated me to get involved in ways I never expected.
So I was wondering… How has your pet changed or motivated you? What have you done or gotten involved in as a result of your pet? I’d love to hear your story.
Lady hanging out at the dog park – back home safe
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After we adopted Penny from a pet shop, we learned After the fact that you should never get a puppy that way. Go to a breeder or a rescue organization!! This was almost 9 years ago.
Since then we learned so much about puppy mills and the horror stories associated with them. if we ever get another dog, we would adopt from our local rescue place. The adoption of Penny has taught us that.
Then we found out about the terrible treats from China, which the started us making our own treats for Penny and our neighbors dogs. Our neighbors loved them so much, that they told us we should sell them and now we are.
All this be cause of our cute loving girl Penny!!!
Wow! Who could have ever guessed that she would bring about such a change? I mean would you have ever guessed you would be selling your very own dog treats online? I love stories like yours.
I didn’t know a ton about puppy mills either. Getting Daisy motivated me to find out more.
Having Elka has changed me in positive ways. I have more patience, more focus, and I was inspired to start the blog, which has gotten me in contact with a whole lot of wonderful people online.
I’ve also become educated, belatedly, on what makes a GOOD breeder, what makes good dog food, and what health tests and issues are involved with the Doberman breed.
Wow. Elka has brought a lot of change to your life Jen. I can relate to the “more patience and focus and starting a blog”. I started my first one to catalog Daisy’s progress.
Amazing what you learn and the people you meet isn’t it?
We got our first dog from a reputable breeder, we had never heard of rescue groups. Having Mason made us realize that there are amazing dogs in rescue, that deserve a forever home and we carry the “consider rescue” message wherever we go. Rescue dogs aren’t necessarily special need dogs – unless of course you consider the amount of food Mason would eat if we’d let him.
LOL! I love the comment about food Julie. It’s such a Sheltie thing to be food obsessed.
Funny, but I had always assumed that Mason was from a rescue. How I was lucky enough to meet you and Jeff? I am so glad you guys are involved with rescue and in helping to educate others.
Now about that herding….
I’ve had dogs all my life and have been involved in activities and causes related to their welfare. I’m sure they have made me the wonderful person I am today.
Jan – I think you should write a book some day. You have way more knowledge than I do and you have some of the best stories about your dogs!
I started my blog to share my pets with others, but have found so much more out here. More and more I find myself trying to enlighten others about the proper treatment of animals. Without my drive to share my beautiful dogs, I wouldn’t be making a difference.
I have seen that too Jodi. You have shared so much on your blog about how to treat an animal. I think our dogs motivate us to do things we never expected to do before.
When I got Brut, he changed everything I thought I knew about dogs. He helped me to think outside of the box and trust my gut and heart. He challenged me to trust my instincts and act upon them. He’s the reason besides my husband that I started blogging. I hope some day to write his story someday. There is more than one way to work with aggression issues and I hope to inspire even just one that there is a way to do it with love.
Some day you should write Brut’s story. I loved reading about some of his early days. I learned a lot about how he grew up and why he was such a challenge early on. Boy has he come far. I imagine he could write a book about how you each helped one another.
Agnes taught us the joy of adopting a senior pet. She was the best ‘starter dog’ ever. Quiet, housebroken, and loved all people and every animal she met. She also taught us that old dogs CAN learn new tricks (she only knew ‘sit’ when we got her. I taught her: down, shake (both feet), roll over, play dead.)
Thor taught us (and is still teaching us) about socializing a puppy, prey drive, and reactivity. I now know much more about canine body language than I did in the 28 years prior to owning him. He is also teaching me patience! We’ve made a lot of progress with his leash-reactivity in the last 4 months, but it didn’t come overnight.
Wow Fallah! Agnes sounds like an amazing dog. I love that you taught her new tricks. Yes. Old dogs can indeed learn new tricks.
I also learned about how wonderful senior dogs are from my dog Aspen. She was the very best of everything. Just like your Agnes.
LOL! I read your comments about Thor and could SO relate! Jasper, my 4 year old Sheltie, has taught me many of the same things. So glad we can share what it is like to raise a puppy, learn canine body language and how to learn patience.
I think all of our dogs have changed me in some way. I grew as a person through my association with each and every one of them. Lilac taught me not to discount dogs who are older. As it turned out, even though she was considered an old dog, she ended up spending more than half her life with us. I have a much deeper appreciation for senior dogs now!
I have to agree with you on senior dogs Carrie. My last dog, before Daisy, was Aspen. She was 9 when I adopted her and even though she was only with me a year, I still miss her terribly. She was an amazing dog. I learned so much from her.
Having pets has changed me into a more patient person in general. Training a puppy can be difficult, but you have to have patience to do it. Having a dog also made me more active. Dog owners need to be somewhat active to play with their pets, and patient, too, because if they don’t have time to do it, they have to make time!
Owning a cat has also made me more knowledgeable about pet health, specifically pet food. My dog is allergic to grain, so pet food shopping clued me on what pet food is good and what isn’t. I am now a pretty big advocate of feeding all pets top quality food.
It’s so fascinating to me how life-changing our dogs have become. I guess it’s natural that if we have taken the time to write blogs about our animals, they have impacted us on a much deeper level. My dog changed my life in every single way. It’s pretty much what my entire website is about. If I hadn’t agreed to adopt Shiva when my husband looked at me with those sad eyes, I have no idea who or where I would be today. Definitely not here, writing this comment!
Getting Jersey inspired me to start making dog collars and writing the blog! Without her, I would never have done any of that.
I never knew that Karen! Wow!
BJ changed – saved – my life. In fact I think I’m still here because of him, his needs and his love. There was no question that I needed to get out of my apartment. I was so busy being with him and taking care of him, I had no time to worry about me.
My sister was out with our mom going to yard sales when she came across a lady who was going to throw a couple of new born kittens in the trash. My sister took them home and I spent many hours to ensure they would live. If my sister had not been out we would have never gotten two of the most beautiful and lively cats who bring so much love in our life. This act of kindness by my sister inspired her to continue to adopt homeless pets and to provide them homes. I’m so grateful for her big heart and example. She hopes to someday open her own cat and dog rescue.
Taking in a stray black dog to foster has led me to learn more about the whole animal rescue movement and especially the plight of pit bulls and other bully breed dogs.
I adopted my dog Libby three years ago from a rescue organization. She’s changed my life in so many ways. For one, I was never a regular exerciser, and because she has a lot of energy, I’ve become a runner so that I could meet her need for activity. She encourages me to be creative and playful (I’ve trained her to do several tricks, including to ride a skateboard!). Having Libby in my life has also taught me about caregiving and my style as a caregiver. I had no idea that I would research *everything* to excess in order to do the best job I can for her health and well-being. Finally, I met some friends at the dog park who I would never have met otherwise.
Rachael – I loved reading your comments. Clearly, Libby has changed your life in big ways! All worth it isn’t it? I am so glad you stopped by and shared your own experience!