(Not so?) Great Expectations

One thing I have come to realize during my work at BCAS is that sometimes unrealistic expectations play a big role in whether or not a dog will be adopted. I think there is a common belief that when you are looking for your new forever friend, the animal will "choose" you in some way. Don't get me wrong---I definitely think it is possible for animals and humans to have an almost instant connection. However, I find that some of the best animals are looked over because they don't fall in line with the expectation of what a rescue animal should be.

Adopting an animal that needs a little work can be an intensely rewarding experience. Whether that "work" consists of training, grooming, or even just giving a formerly starving animal proper nutrition. I think that people shy away from taking on these animals because they either think they don't have the time or patience for it, or they think they just don't have the knowledge or skill. And to be perfectly honest, I think it is difficult for people to see through what an animal currently IS (emaciated, boisterous & untrained, not properly groomed, timid) to see what how beautiful it can be with a little TLC. A good shelter will give you all the support and resources they can. For example, we often offer discounted training sessions with a local dog trainer. We can help you figure out what foods or toys are going to bring out the best in an animal. One thing we always tell people is to call us with ANY questions or issue. We don't simply get the animal out the door and into a home--we follow through to make sure that animal is successful in its new life.

As an example, I adopted my Great Dane Sadie from BCAS in the spring of 2008. It is hard to tell in this picture, but she was skinny. And I mean REALLY skinny. I think she was around 68 pounds (she weighs 100 now) when I met her. And here is the thing---she and I didn't have that instant connection. Well, she didn't at least. I fell in love almost immediately. But this was a dog (as many of our dogs are) who hadn't been treated well. She had been bounced around and landed at BCAS, but probably hadn't had a deep human bond possibly ever. She touched my heart though, so I took her home. I understood that what she need was some work. We worked on getting her up to a healthy weight. We worked on housebreaking her. We worked on teaching her everything that she would have been taught long ago had she been fortunate enough to be in a loving and caring home. I am not going to say it wasn't difficult and there were at least 2 times when I thought I might be crazy for even trying. But even though we got discouraged, we never gave up because I knew Sadie was worth the work. Fast forward almost 4 years and I have a connection with this dog that is so deep and so loving I wouldn't take a million dollars for her. The love she gives me on a daily basis dwarfs the amount of TLC she needed when we first got her.

My message to any potential adopter is this: the next time you go to a shelter and you see the skinny dog,  the rambunctious dog, the timid dog, the dog without a beautiful coat...please consider taking on a dog who needs a little something extra. Just like Sadie, you will find that the love you get from them will far exceed the work you put in.

Thanks for taking a chance on me, Sadie.