I do not rescue dogs!

Sonic

I do not rescue dogs.
Let me say that again, I do not rescue dogs. I have 4 great pyrs and two cats plus a very
full life. I do not rescue dogs. By now you’ve seen the cute face at the top
of this post, right? Meet Sonic. He was rescued from a roadside in July. We have fostered him since. I do not rescue dogs but my better half
does. We rescue & foster the dogs he
saves from hunger, hurt and worse.

The call always comes. “I’ve found a dog.” I offer tough
love. “Well, good luck with that. I’m wrestling pyrs and trying not to go
insane from constant barking. Love ya, bye.”

Each dog ends up wiggling his way into my heart. I feed them, walk them, and care for their
wounds and emotional scars. I prepare
each one for his forever family because they cannot stay with us—I do not
rescue dogs.

Caring for 6 pets and foster animals is a struggle. Finding the perfect forever home is more
so. Kudos to the professionals who do
this for a career! There are many who
want a dog but few who will truly qualify to be a responsible, loving pet
owner. Most rescues come with baggage,
issues or health problems. It is my responsibility
to match the rescue with the one owner who will love him as much as I do. Who will understand his needs, and that there
will be a major adjustment period. And,
that there may be issues with this cute bundle of fur that I’m not even aware
of yet.

I do my due diligence for the sake of the animal I am
releasing into the care of a stranger.
And, I expect each adopter to return the animal to myself should any
issues or circumstances pop up. I do not
want my foster put into the shelter system.
That may sound a little greedy but I have cared for these pets and I
think of them as mine, even after they leave my home.

We have been blessed with amazing adopters! And, all of our rescues have happy, healthy
lives. Because I took the time to place
the dog with the appropriate owner who understood the responsibility they were
taking on.

It is a fine line I walk.
These animals come into my home, not as family members but
visitors. I hold them at arm lengths,
not allowing myself to become attached.
But I do. Each time. And each time I have to say goodbye as they
make their way on to their forever families.

I thank each of those families and all adoptive
families. I do not rescue dogs. Their forever families do.

Sheila Rinks is the editor of Finding Fuzzybutt Four, producer of the Raising Indiana podcast and shares her home with her husband, 4 Great Pyrenees and 2 very well-fed kitties.