How It All Began...

Growing up, my family had always gotten our dogs from a pure-bred breeder. I knew early on that I wanted to have 10 dogs when I got older. (Don't worry! I quickly realized that was excessive... and lowered it to 5. Much more reasonable!) I always thought I'd get a yellow lab from a pure-bred breeder. Having labs growing up, I knew labs were family-friendly dogs. Also, I would overhear my mom talking to her friend from the neighborhood who got her dog from the pet store. Her friend would talk about all the complications they were having - the poor dog was always so sick. At that time, I thought buying from a pet store was the same as rescuing. I wasn't aware of puppy mills and all the horrible things dogs go through. I grew up thinking breeders were the smart, and essentially the only, choice I'd have.

Zzzzz

That all changed one fateful September day in 2012. I was leaving my boyfriends parents' house when I got a phone call from my mom. "Could you please stop by Pet Smart on your way home to pick up dog food? We're almost out". My response? "UGGGGHHHHH", (such a doll, aren't I?).

Walking towards the back of Pet Smart where the food is kept, I heard music to my ears - puppy yips and dogs barking! I found a built-in adoption center for Eleventh Hour Rescue (EHR). After spending wayyy too much time looking at all their adorable puppies and dogs and getting teary-eyed, I picked up the dog food, and went home. 

Bach, an Eleventh Hour Rescue alumni

My mom quickly regretted asking me to stop off at Pet Smart, as I did not stop talking about all the animals I saw. In particular, a husky/shepard mix named Dodger had my heart. I found it weird since A) he wasn't a puppy, and B) he was a boy. I've always been a puppy lover, and always wanted girl dogs. But Dodger was the only dog not getting up to go towards the front of his cage to be pet when people walked by. He looked sad to be in the cage, but when I stopped and put my hand up to the cage, he came closer to give me kisses while his tail wagged and wagged. I instantly felt a connection to him. I made that painfully clear to my parents over the next few days. 

my "sister" Gracie with Dodger

I also went back to the Pet Smart EHR adoption center and filled out an application to volunteer. I started volunteering whenever I could. At that time I was working part-time as a special education aide and substitute at an elementary school and taking night-time graduate courses at Centenary College. Yet whatever free time I could find, I'd go to EHR to volunteer.

One day I drove there with only 30 minutes or so to spare before my graudate course. I don't know why I bothered driving there when I didn't have much time to donate, but boy was I glad I did! I found out that night that Dodger was adopted, and would be leaving the next day. Heartbroken as I was, (I really thought I could convince my parents to get a third dog, despite their saying that 2 dogs was enough), I was so happy for Dodger to be going to a fur-ever home, and was so happy I got the chance to say goodbye.

Don't get sad for me, it gets better, I promise. One Saturday (okay, I know exactly what day it was - October 13, 2012), I had been volunteering for 5 hours. Weekends are pretty hectic at EHR, many puppies and dogs arrive, and this Saturday was no different. I of course wanted them all, and inbetween taking the bigger dogs out for walks, would check out the puppies, watching them in the bigger play area to see what their temperament was like. I knew that if I could find a dog with the right temperament to get along with our two dogs, Zoey and Brooklynn, that my mom would cave.

It took some time -- many, if not most, of the puppies were adopted that day. But I found two puppies who I thought would be great. One was black with white paws (Raven) and one was black and white with longer fur (Princess, I think?). I called my mom and she came down when I was done volunteering. She liked the black one with white paws the best (Raven licked her, which to my mom meant that Raven liked her). She told me I should have my dad come with our dogs and see how they do meeting, "but no promises!". I knew I was in.

We went home and talked to my dad, and then I promptly drove back to the Pet Smart with my dad, Zoey, and Brooklynn. We all went into the meet-and-greet room and the black puppy with white paws joined us. She got along GREAT with my dogs. Zoey was happy to play with her, and Brooklynn didn't pay her much attention (which is a good thing, because sometimes Brooklynn gets afraid of other dogs and can snap at them). My dad was convinced, called my mom to get the official okay, and it was time to take home my first, very own puppy! My application had been approved and I was off to find a new collar and leash for my black puppy with the white paws.

True love

Unfortunately it proved to not be that easy. There were some problems I experienced with one of co-managers there, who just didn't seem to like me, and wouldn't adopt Raven to my family and I. She left a note to the other co-manager (they switched shifts by the time I left volunteering and came back with my dad and dogs) to not adopt any dogs to me.To say I was devestated was an understatement. Putting Raven back into her crate, when we both thought she was going to her furever home was heartbreaking. I later received a phone call from this not-to-be-named co-manager to explain why I wasn't getting a dog. I then had the pleasure of being talked down to by this girl who was younger than I was. "You're acting too fast", "I don't think you're being responsible", "I'm not sure you've thought this through", "She isn't going to a puppy forever, she estimated to get up to 80 lbs, she will get bigger, you know". WAIT, hold the phone, puppies get bigger?! Who knew?! Certainly not my parents and I, who had taken care of three puppies at this point. And wait, I was rushing it? Most people come in to the adoption center, find one dog, do a meet and greet, and take it home 5 minutes later (granted their application had been approved). I was doing research - I was looking to find a dog that woudl fit in with my family, that would have the right temperament so that all our dogs would get along. So that at all cost I could avoid taking a puppy home only to return it.

It was not only insulting, but saddening to think that a homeless puppy would not go to a good home because of this girl. That was my motivation and goal in writing an email to the founder of Eleventh Hour Rescue -- simply to explain what had occured, and how I thought it a shame that all the hard work so many people at Eleventh Hour Rescue do for these dogs could be off-put by this one girl. Honestly? I didn't think I would hear back for a few days, maybe weeks. This woman must be insanely busy with all she does for these helpless dogs. I didn't expect to get Raven. Yeah, black dogs don't get adopted as often as lighter-colored dogs, but she was a puppy, a seemingly well-behaved puppy, and I had a sinking feeling I wouldn't see her again.

I heard back within hours. Amongst apologizing for the incident, Linda let me know that Raven wouldn't be adopted to anyone else, and that I could go back and get her if I was still interested. IF I was still interested?! Of course I was! My mom, trying to cheer me up through my fits of tears, suggested I go to a breeder and pick out a puppy that way, but I couldn't. Not after seeing all those dogs that needed homes. I wanted to do my part to help the over-crowding in shelters. I wanted to rescue a dog that needed a home as much as I wanted to give it a home. So of course I went back first thing the next morning and picked up MY puppy, MY black puppy with white paws, MY Madison Boots. 

Car ride! Fresh air! Fur-ever home! Yay!

Madison is absolutely everything I ever wanted in my own dog, and more. She is intelligent yet silly (my boyfriend likes to call her dopey dog), playful yet snuggly, outgoing yet independent, loving and fiercely loyal. I truly believe she knows I rescued her, and she has shown me her gratitude every day by loving me with all she has.

Madison's first night home, enjoying the fresh air and the land that is now all her's to run on

Do you really have to take pictures of me? I just want to run around!!

SO much more comfortable than a cage!