It's My Furry Boy's Birthday!

He made it! My beautiful furry boy made it to his 13th birthday today. Woody is the apple of my eye, and because of him I've learned how to appreciate every day like it was my last. Here is his story.

Woody came to me at the ripe old age of 10. His owner was being deployed to Iraq and had taken Woody to a local "High Kill" shelter, because there was no one else to care for him. His owner was heart broken. He shouldered not only the responsibility of going off to war, but also knowing that his long time furry companion  was most likely going to be put to sleep because no one wanted him due to his advanced age.

However, as luck would have it, I belong to a German Shepherd Rescue, and one of my fellow rescuers was at the shelter the day Woody was brought in. She heard his story, and saw the man saying his emotional farewell to his dog. Quickly, she sent an e mail out to the group pleading for someone to take Woody. She said, " This old boy needs an angel."

I had already had three dogs in my possession, but looking at the picture sent, and hearing his story broke my heart, so I took him. Now here we are three years and two brushes with near death later. One at the shelter that day, and last year with bloat. But Woody had made it!!

Regrettably, Woody is  now plagued with Degenerative Mylepothy (where the back end dies), but we are making the best of it with medicines, supplements, a rear end sling, and a doggie wheelchair.  And true to Woody's nature, he is a survivor and making the best of what is handed to him. He is my hero.

I love my furry boy wholeheartedly. Three years ago a friend said  "he" needed an angel, and that may have been so, but the truth is, I'm the one who got the angel. An angel in a furry coat named Woody.

The Furry Kids

IT'S COOKIE TIME!!!! All the furry kids are lined up for cookie time. Check out the little "lip smacker" out in front...she can't even hide her enthusiasm. :)

Clearly, I am a German Shepherd lover right? Right, but aside from that I am a lover of the idea of adopting a dog. There are so many good dogs that need a second chance at a loving forever home. Three of my four dogs are adopted.

To take this one step further, three of my four dogs are seniors. I adopted one of my G. Sheps when he was 10 years old (now 12 + yrs), and another  at 14 yrs old. Both, had loving owners who serve our country in the military, both were deployed and had to part with their beloved pets. Both would have been euthanized immediately due to there age if I didn't step up to the plate. Regrettably, there are so many more good dogs (seniors or not) who don't get the opportunity to go to on.

So, not only is it important...no, imperative, to adopt a dog rather then buy one, it is also important to give the older boys and  gals a home. Many folks believe that because they are older that the medical bills will be greater then that of a young dog. In some cases that may be true, but frequently that's not the case at all.

To me, whether the dog be a senior or not, adopted dogs seem to be more humble, more apt to please, and definitely more grateful. Please give a homeless dog a shot life.

DON'T SHOP! ADOPT!