Love Those Rescue Pets

There is a commercial on television that disturbs me every time it airs. I hear the music and immediately avoid looking at the screen. While I am in total sympathy with its message, it brings tears to my eye, to see the pain. I think many of you probably feel the same. More than likely, you have guessed, I am referring to the commercial on animal abuse. My heart goes out to these animals, and my anger, in equal portions, to the abusers. I think of all the wonderful memories of the pets, I have shared my home with. The only sad memories, are from their loss, and each time, my heart breaks, as I say, “never again”. But…I’m a rescuer, and so I continue to rescue dogs needing homes.

Having said this, I have memories to share. I once had a dog that put himself in “time out”. He was about a year old and my method of correction was to confine him to a spot under the stairway, with a stern no. He would stay in the chubby for about fifteen minutes, without human contact. The Animal trainer might not approve of my method, but it worked for me. One day, I was in the den downstairs, when I heard him run down the upstairs hallway, at a really fast pace. He continued down the stairs and into the room with the cubby. It was a very noisy descent. And then….there was complete silence. I had no idea what the strange behavior was about, until I went into the room with the “time-out” cubby. There he sat, perfectly still, as if in “time-out”. No gate…just perfect stillness. Wondering why the behavior, I went upstairs to investigate, and did not have to look far for the answer. He had thoroughly enjoyed a romp in the hall, emptying a wastebasket and playing with the contents. I cleaned up the mess, leaving my dog where he had placed himself (no confinement), to see what he would do. He stayed exactly fifteen minutes, and then presented himself at my side. Needless to say, he was not re-corrected for the offense, and I was actually proud, he had a conscious, and could tell time!

This same little dog did everything he could, to train me. I had a plant in my living room that I routinely cared for, with my dog at my side. Because I worked, he spent days inside, going out at lunch, and then waiting for the family to come home, after school and work. He was a happy dog, and very well behaved, the perfect gentleman…until I came home and left again. I was the only one in the family he “corrected.” Upon returning home, I would find my plants uprooted, and in the floor. Obviously, in his mind, I was supposed to stay home with him. It was his time, so he would punish me, with my beloved plant. Fortunately, my plant was hardy, and he was careful not to destroy it, thus the plant always survived.

Become a rescuer….you get back much more than you give! Love those pets!

 

Source: K. P. Guessen