Faith in Our Four-legged Friends

You know how sometimes things keep happening in your life and you know you just need to write about them? That's what has been happening to me over the past 24 hours.

If you don't know already, I am a huge advocate for adopting and fostering homeless animals! You can read my fostering story about Kip and the one about 3 baby kittens. Fostering will forever be one of the most rewarding opportunities I've had. Right up there with adopting Stella :)

I can't wait until I am able to foster again and I especially can't wait to adopt my first dog! Yesterday, I couldn't stop thinking about the day when I can open up my home to animals in need of forever homes. I decided to search online for dogs in the area that were in desperate need of homes. I came across a husky named Spook, who is currently living in a high-kill shelter. I have wanted a husky since before I can even remember and looking at pictures of that guy was yet another reminder of all the animals who are in danger.

Then, I read the story of another dog, a boxer named Brad. Brad was taken to the shelter by Animal Control after being found chained up in someone's back yard. He was found with an embedded collar which means the owner put a collar on him but never re-sized it as he grew out of being a puppy. The collar had to be surgically removed and they noticed a femur that had been broken some time ago and was never treated.

This morning, I got to work and my co-worker had brought in a dog looking for a home. Her name is Molly and she is a one-year-old St. Bernard/Collie mix whose owners kept her in a crate. She is much smaller than you would think (due to the St. Bernard mix) and super happy but due to being locked up all her life, she is still learning her commands.

My heart just breaks and I wish more than anything that I could adopt them all. These dogs are real. They have stories. They just want to be loved. Brad's foster mom said she'll sit on the floor and he'll snuggle up to her. She'll rub his tummy and sadly had a feeling that it was the first time Brad received affection. 

Although this post is titled "Our FOUR-legged friends," it's also about our two-legged friends. Today, I wanted to share a story about Faith. Faith, the dog. Faith was born with two severely deformed front legs. She was found underneath her mother after birth, as dog mothers tend to do this naturally when they know their pups aren't born healthy.

Faith was saved and trained extensively by her loving family who took her in. She learned how to walk upright on her hind legs! She is literally a walking miracle and proof that every dog should be given a second chance.

If you or anyone you know is in the DC area and might be interested in giving Spook, Brad, or Molly a forever home, please let me know and I can pass on the information!

My hope is that one day I can play a larger role in the rescuing of these homeless and disabled animals. Until then, I'll do what I can to encourage everyone to adopt, adopt, adopt! Or even foster, foster, foster. It is truly one of life's greatest blessings.