Foo - Meet Powder

Ever since our doggie passed away last July after a long battle with cancer, the house has seemed desolate despite nightly visits from the neighbor's Great Dane and regular dogsitting gigs.

The original plan for yesterday was to go skiing, but we had to stay in cell range my wife was waiting for callbacks from a theatre audition. To make a long story short, we spent the day visiting animal shelters.

The supply of idiots in our society is enormous. That means there are lots of great dogs are in languishing in these shelters. It's noisy and stressful in these places for the dogs, so many that could become very well adjusted in a normal environment come across as aggressive or psychotic. When no one wants them, they get euthanized.

Some asshat dumped the sweetie in the attached photo, and she was found freezing, underweight, filthy, and covered with fleas.

My wife and I felt guilty expressing interest in the best dog at county animal control since we can handle something that is harder to adopt. However, staff there were really encouraging us to take her because she attracts parents that want a cute dog, but they think there's a chance she might not be good for kids.

Her name is Powder, and she's very smart for being only 8 weeks old. They told us she won't play fetch, but as this video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1YyxNNTVBA) taken before she even entered the house shows, she's a natural. Also, she's already learning to sit, eat on command, and take care of business outside.

She's a spunky little girl, but she has kennel cough so we need to keep her away from other animals while she heals up and we can get her to a vet. I normally prefer black dogs and there were plenty in the shelters. But for her, I just had to make an exception.

She looks like a real sweetheart! Good on you for simply adopting a shelter dog. You can't feel guilty for not adopting them all (because I know I would have about 90 cats in the house if I had free rein)--just be glad that you managed to save one.

East Hill

Adorable!

Aww, she looks like a real sweetie! And from the sounds of it is one lucky girl to have ended up in your home :o

Both of our current dogs are shelter puppies. The animal shelter can be one of the most depressing places to go. While we felt good for the ones we can help, there is an underlying sadness for those we can't take home.
But it looks like you got a smart puppy, good luck.

so cute! good on you and enjoy the new member of your family!!:thumb:

Congrats. I was leary of getting a stray dog for our boys, but she is a wonderful dog. I know that with the love Powder will receive from your family, she will be wonderful as well.

Both of our current dogs are shelter puppies. The animal shelter can be one of the most depressing places to go. While we felt good for the ones we can help, there is an underlying sadness for those we can't take home.

I think these places are really good for perspective even if they are depressing. They're overcrowded, underresourced, and you know the odds aren't good for many animals.

Yesterday, my wife took a special shine to a year old lab/pit mix that needs training. It bothers her enough that she's going to volunteer just so she can keep an eye on the guy since his adoption prospects aren't so good. If he gets to his last day without someone taking him home, she wants to take him in on a foster basis. It's cool with me. I met the dog, and we can handle him.

I remember the endless debates before our first dog 12 years ago. My wife wanted a miniature poodle, miniature schnauzer, or something less than 20lbs. I don't mind small dogs, but they're more like cats to me so I tend to prefer something larger. We eventually got a Dane/lab mix though it took my wife awhile to get used to what that really meant :D We've come a long way...

How anyone can dump a cute puppy is beyond me. There was a stray I befriended once on holiday. It was a tiny labrador puppy, so small it would sit on the palm of my hand. I think it recognised me whenever I saw it, but maybe it just associated me with food.

Powder looks like a darling pup!

All of my cats were gathered from the humane society, strays, and one from a variety store (the poor little guy was miserable. The owner's little girl was half strangling the kitten when my mom arrived. Brought him home and he was the sweetest guy). I'm sure if I went into a shelter I'd leave with an armload of cats and dogs, much to my husband's chagrin.

Sweet! My girlfriend and I adopted a little chihuahua about two years ago. We went "just to look," but when she rolled over for us to pet her belly we couldn't keep ourselves from bringing her home. She is one of my best friends (the dog) :D

Sweet! My girlfriend and I adopted a little chihuahua about two years ago. We went "just to look," but when she rolled over for us to pet her belly we couldn't keep ourselves from bringing her home. She is one of my best friends (the dog) :D
Once you go "just to look," it's all over.

Powder was actually the first dog we saw. The last time we got a dog, we also went home with the first one we met (also from county animal control, but we lived in a different county at the time).

The only difference in the search process this time is that we actually visited other dogs and shelters after visiting Powder (last time, the search ended as soon as we saw our dog). This time, they let us put a 24 hr hold on her because we had to bring in tax documents to prove we owned our house. Because of the built in delay, my wife thought it might be a good idea to see some others just in the name of thoroughness.

I like how she doesn't run after the toy in the video, she bounces. :)

OMG, Powder is so adorable, congrats!

And thank you for adopting from the shelter. :)


Once you go "just to look," it's all over.

+1

Cute puppy. You should also consider the Scotts Four Step program.

I suppose now you think you have the best dog, eh bj?

And perhaps you do. Well done.

Oh, how CUTE! I've decided that when I get my next house, I'm going to adopt all of the older guys that get dumped into shelters that I possibly can.

She looks like a little white version of my dog.

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t11/jaiden92/JaidenBeforeIGotHim-sm.jpg

Sweeet Dog!

Yellow dogs are the best dogs.

I suppose now you think you have the best dog, eh bj?

And perhaps you do. Well done.
She'll give Sam a run for the money.

She's an exotic hybrid with such an unfair advantage that she will not be allowed to enter any dog shows -- the AKC knows when they're facing a threat.

She's a cute one! Congratulations on your new family member!

Congrats- what a sweetie! She looks like she has just enough terrier in her to be a handful- just like our guy, who we adopted 11 years ago from a shelter. The ears (and the look in her eyes) are a dead giveaway! Here's to many happy years together, and to shelter animals and their adopters everywhere!! :beer::beer:

She hop runs like my pooch. How cute.