By Judy Cools
Our family has always advocated adopting rescue animals. Most shelter animals are of unknown pedigree, and many folks feel that makes the best pet. Virtually every breed also has a rescue organization if you’re looking for something specific. From retired racing greyhounds or sled dogs, to rescues from puppy mills or even from dog fighting, they all need homes.
While dogs are now our first love, our first pets were a pair of kittens, Snooker and Bobbin, named after our hobbies. They were destined to be wild barn cats if not adopted. One was regal, spoiled and well-suited to indoor life. His sister was a no-nonsense, tough-as-nails girl … yet they were best friends.
Nikki, a sled-dog dropout, joined the family when the cats were getting older. He was our first dog, and we were his first family, so we had some learning to do on both sides. He was a wonderful animal, strong and gentle at the same time. After a while we started looking for a canine companion for him. We settled on one who was in foster care. She looked like a sled dog and everyone thought she was our sled dog’s puppy. It was all a disguise; we’re pretty sure she was mostly beagle underneath. Best mouser we’ve ever had.
As time went on, our family added a rescue from Traverse City. Micah was a beauty and after a little time he showed us the things he had learned. He could sit up like a squirrel and stay balanced like that for 10 minutes. His coveted items were hot dogs, pizza, and fried chicken. (A bachelor’s dog?)
After that one, Shadow (the beagle mix) was our only dog. She was elderly, mostly deaf and mostly blind. We didn’t expect a new dog to blend well with her senior needs, so we were content to keep her as an only pet.
Then one day we found Max at a local shelter, a goofy black lab mix bundle of energy. I don’t know what made us think he would work out with our little senior dog, but he did. He still had young dog energy but always avoided disturbing Shadow, or knocking her down, or eating her food. They were good together.
After a break for some of our own medical issues, Gary said he was ready to get another dog. He researched the internet and came up with Bekka from a shelter about 90 minutes away. She was strong-willed, a survivor and protected us with dedication.
Bekka was our “only” for a few years until Gary made one of those “just going to look” trips to the animal shelter. There he found Gromit. This blue-eyed boy is love itself. We say that he missed his calling as a service dog because he’s so attentive.
Eventually Bekka was gone. As an only child, Gromit took on a different personality and became more confident and relaxed. We figured he would be a loner for the rest of his days.
And then there was Sammi. She appeared on Facebook as a senior dog in need. Her owner had died and there just isn’t a long line of volunteers to take in animals who are at the end of life. My heart went out to her at once, and we counted on Gromit’s gentle nature to be able to accept her.
Their first meeting was stunningly uneventful. He didn’t even bark at her for being in his yard. They played and slept, ate and came for cuddles. “Companionable” only begins to describe these two. Sammi relied on Gromit to make up for her diminished hearing. He was her cue for what was going on in the house.
Sadly, Sammi was only with us for a few months. We’ve heard many times how getting a senior pet “isn’t worth it” due to their short time left on earth. I would argue. This poor, disoriented, frightened dog began to heal in just a few days. Her tail perked up, she learned where to eat and sleep, and she found loving care with her new family. When her time came to an end, she belonged. She was a fully blended member of our family. And we would do it all over again.
If you’re looking for a pet, or would even consider a pet, check out your local animal shelters. With a little patience and discretion, you can find a happy match among the too-many rescue animals looking for homes. The staff there wants the placements to work. The animals are genuine, looking for a chance to belong and waiting for a home of their own. The sense you get by helping the animals and the community just can’t be beat, unless it’s by the sense of love and loyalty that comes from your shelter pet.
Read more about Sammi at: https://judycoolsmoondance.blog/2021/01/18/seven-weeks-two-days-and-a-piece-of-my-heart/
Rescue Services
LAKE COUNTY
Lake County Animal Shelter
3390 Dog Track Road, Baldwin, MI 49304
231-745-3079
https://lakecountyanimalcontrol.wordpress.com
Dogs and cats.
Open Mon.-Fri., 8am-3pm
MANISTEE COUNTY
Homeward Bound Animal Shelter
(Manistee County Humane Society)
736 Paws Trail, Manistee, MI 49660
Donations to P.O. Box 144, Manistee
231-723-7387
Facebook: @HomewardBoundAnimalShelter
Animal shelter for dogs and cats.
Open for adoptions Wed.-Fri., 12-4; Sat., 11am-3pm.
Repo’s Rescues
Nonprofit in Manistee, with animals rescued from all over the U.S.
231-398-7444, reposrecues@gmail.com
Facebook @reposrecue and on Instagram
Adopt or donate to help a rescued animal.
MASON COUNTY
Mason County Animal Control
305 N. Meyers Road
Ludington, MI 49431
(behind Walmart)
231-843-8644
Facebook @Mason-County-Animal-Control
Animal shelter with cats and dogs.
Open 6 days a week.
Mason County Mutts
Facebook@Masoncountymutts
A Facebook group to support dog lovers in Mason County.
Rescues, re-homing, resources, fosters, etc.
Sometimes has cats.
Lakeshore Animal Friends
P.O. Box 503, Ludington, MI. 49431
231-794-7328
Facebook: Lakeshore Animal Friends
Mostly cats and kittens, focused on affordable spay and neuter services. Not a rescue, foster, or emergency shelter.
They also help a few dogs.
