“She’s sooooo cute! Can we get her?” The e-mail message from my wife sent through the Petfinder website was something along those lines. And yes, the accompanying beagle photo was pretty eye-catching. But the fact of the matter was, we already had 2 cats and a very active almost-2-year-old in our ever-shrinking house. Was now the right time to welcome another family pet into our lives?
Then came the long list of the beagle’s finest attributes… “She’s already fully grown and small enough that she won’t really take up extra room. She’s gentle, loves kids, is house-trained and hardly ever barks. They’re going to spay her.” With an upbringing where having a dog was almost a given, it didn’t take long to twist my arm to at least go check things out. So we hopped in the car and headed to Rockford to the Grey Bruce Animal Shelter.
This was actually my first time visiting the Shelter. I was very impressed with the cleanliness and wealth of volunteer dog-walkers and other maintenance workers on the premises. We took our prospective new addition to the family for a ‘test walk’ in the adjacent large field… a perfect haven for a dog of any size.
Yes, she lived up to her promise of her ‘dog personal’ ad. We put a hold on her so that we could make a decision within 48 hours. Though in less than 24, a phone call from the Shelter put us on the spot. “Another couple is here and they’d like to adopt the beagle here and now. What’s the verdict?”
In a few days, Lexie will be joining us. I look forward not only to the newfound companionship, but also to the more active lifestyle owning a dog will bring. Early morning walks and more time spent outdoors can only be a benefit.
The great care exhibited by the Grey Bruce Animal Shelter made the decision process much easier. There are no employees at the Shelter with all funds coming directly from public and business donations, adoption fees and fundraisers. Those who donate their time to this important local facility tend to be animal-lovers in the truest sense.
Visit the website of the Grey Bruce Animal Shelter at http://www.gb-animalshelter.com/ to learn more.
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