I have no idea why this posted twice. Obviously, I'm no computer genius!

We have adopted 3 dogs and 13 cats.

Rocky our Chihuahua was badly beaten and burned with cigarettes. We just scooped him up from in front of the house where this was happening. That was 5 years ago. Trust me, Chihuahuas are truly the best.

Bless you for opening your home to those in need. Adopting and not buying is my motto. Check my photo section for pics.

Our pet family is smaller right now than its ever been. We have my rescued Boxer/Lab mix who is also my Service Dog and my bossy little 9 yr. old Yorkie. Today was a sad day because we had to say Goodbye to one of my furry Grandchildren, a 12 yr old English Mastiff (12 is very old for a Mastiff). My son works out of country and I did not want my d-in-law to go through the goodbyes alone, so I pulled myself together and was able to drive them to the Vet and stay by my dear, dear pup's side w/ her Mommy till the end. It was very peaceful and it was time. Our dear sweet vet came in, took one look and said, "yes, it is time". D-in-law really needed to hear that from him and I bless him for his kindness and skill. My other two "grandchildren" (2 Mastiffs who are both one yr. old) are grieving for their surrogate Mom along w/ the humans.
Last winter we had to say goodbye to our 14 yr. old Lab, Buddy. We are finally emotionally ready to open our home and hearts to another member but need to wait until I get through my tx. We will, of course, seek out a rescue. I'll never have another who is not. If I could afford proper care, I would have at least 4 or 5 babies. We have a lot of room in our home and hearts but I will not add more than I can afford to provide for. Even basic Vet care is so terribly expensive nowadays.
Last night, my husband was having an awful episode of muscle spasms/contractions (he has a rare muscle disease, Tubular Aggregate Myopathy). Our dear Addy was nuzzling him, touching him gently w/ her paw and finally laid at his feet w/ her head and one paw resting gently on his feet. Since she's my Service Dog, she's normally focused on me but last night, she knew Hubby needed comfort. She's a very special girlie!!

I love to hear these stories. Dogs are so intuitive...cats are self absorbed! My dogs are great cuddlers, for sure.. Addy sounds like an incredible member of your family! What a blessing.

Cherry

I just love to hear you guys takeing care of those poor little animals. What big hearts you guys have!

I don't collect pets per se but i don't feel whole without a cat. I'm on my 3rd on in my adult life. I treated him like a baby or kid untill my kids where born now i have to share the love lol now my cat thinks he's my roomates cat LOL he even sleeps with my roomate now. But roomie is a lonely guy so they make a good pair lol

I'd like to say it's a selfless thing to do, but it's really not the case. They give me so much in return. I was at an extremely low point when Ricky was offered to me. All he wants to do is be on my lap or following like a shadow. Who wouldn't feel better with such adoration?

Sophie, my Beagle/Chihuahua mix and Leo, my Peke are used to other dogs moving in or visiting and they are so cordial to the new guy! He joined the pack like he was meant to be...guess he was.

Right now I only have 1 dog and 1 cat this is very unusual for me! My dog of 14 died and it just broke my heart he was with me longer than anyone. Then my old basset had his day. I had a big dog come and attack my beagle and he too died.
I've had snapper turtles, rescued seagulls, I had a wild young oppossum, I have had quite the assortment of rescues! LOL.
I just moved and am thinking of getting a companion for my Daisy Mae. I will wait until things are done around and really think this out. I normally have 3-4 dogs, but I'm not in the country any more. I've adopted so many strays it's unbelievable.
It's good to hear that I'm not the only one like this. There are too many animals out there needing homes. Please get your animals fixed! Sorry I had to throw that in there.

I will be kick out of house if I bring home anymore. But I have the local rehabber on my GPS.

As a child, I drove my Mother crazy with all the critters I brought home. I even brought home a frog that was born with only one back leg!

When I was about 15, I rescued a white mouse from the biology lab at the end of the school year because it was going to be destroyed! I heard my Mother scream when she discovered it running up and down my bed.

A stray cat found me, also, and I was told I could NOT keep it. I remember getting home from my dance class and sitting in the cold garage, holding that cat...shivering. When I refused to come in the house without the cat, she gave in. Of course, I was told it wouldn't be staying permanently and referred to it as 'cat'. Well Cat learned her name and came when called. She slept wrapped around my head every night.

I'm a sucker for animals in need at the age of 52 just like I was as a child!

i love them also i got real sick last week i spent the day setting in tolet with buket between my legs my dog chopper would not leave me alone he was almost on top of me most the day.most my animals have been resucue pets . i think that they make wonderful pets big hugs to you ane your animal family love hugs minnie

I have my beautiful dog Kalla, who is the light of my life. She was rescued from an old woman where I worked in college. The woman thought she wanted her and Kalla's sister...but they were too young to be taken from their mom and the old woman kept stepping on them. I was working as a home care giver for the woman's neighbor and the woman came over and asked me if I would like to take one of the dogs for my kids.
When I got kalla...the corners of her eyes were still a little sticky, she could not have been more than 6 weeks old. She was handful size and was a little ball of fluff. I have had her ever since. She is extremely loyal, she will not leave me. She is the best dog I have ever had in my whole life and I love her more than I can express.

I also have snoopy...whom we rescued from a meth house. The young people who lived there were breeding the little chiuaua they had and selling her pups for money to support their drug habit. Snoopy was their dog's 3rd batch of pups....they are pigs. I bought the dog and then reported them to the police for drugs and reported them to the animal enforcement for cruelty to animals.
Snoopy is crazy, silly, and has so much personality. He is almost three years old and he still does not know his name. He curls up with me and sleeps under the blankets with me. He guards Kalla like she is a treasure and together---they are my awesome duo kids. I am madly in love with my doggie people.

My mom has Moustache...he is a little black Lhasa Apsa / Shitzu mix. He was my aunts dog. My aunt was dying of Hep C and complications...she would sleep for days at a time and would be confused a lot due to build up of amonia in her brain and pain medications. She would either lock moustache out and fall asleep by accident for days or she would fall asleep in the house and moustache would not be able to get out for days.
Several years ago, my aunt was getting really bad and called us for help...I went out to clean her house and there was this nappy little dog, carrying a squeeky toy and covered in matted fur. OMG, I just died---he was so flippin cute and just trolloping along so happy...
We brought him home with us a few days later as we had my aunt admitted to the hospital becuase she was so very sick. Originally...it was just until she got better, but then it turned into an adoption. He is the cutest dog and he LOVES squeeky toys. He gets so happy after a new one comes home and he will squeek it until he "kills" it, all night all day....I just love him.

This breaks my heart as well as warms it. I can't stand...absolutely can't stand that any animal is ever abused. I could cry right now...I really could not volunteer to help...it would drive me to prison. I'd surely maim someone in the same manner that they thought was appropriate for their pet.

That being said I only adopt pets, never support pet stores that sell dogs. I've adopted from a golden retriever rescue. Mackenzie was with us for 10 years before she passed on from cancer. I've currently sharing my home with...Toby. He was rescued from the side of the road, in the wicked cold of winter, at 6 months old. He is a toy poodle. He stole my heart and still owns it to this day! We later found out from the animal shelter, we had reported him as found as he may have just gotten loose, that they were 100% sure that he was one of the animals that lived at a home in which they had removed all the animals because of abuse. Apparently the owners told them that they were missing a poodle that got out!

We also have Blue, a blue heeler that spent most of his life in isolation in a basement room. While not physically abused. This must have been very hard on him mentally. He was about 6 or 7, and we've had him for 2 years. He's well loved but he is aggressive to strangers and must be crated at those times, otherwise he's one of the most loving and intelligent dogs I've ever had the honor of caring for.

Finally our last doggie fur baby is Faith, she is a 2 year old pom-chi that's very sassy and playful and my doggy boys love her as much as we do...lol! We adopted her from a home that didn't have time for her and she was neglected. Fortunately it did not take long for her to come into her own little personality.

We also have a ginuea (sp) pig named Bugsy. A rabbit named Caramel. 2 painted turtles...Ricky and Lucy. 2 red eared slider turtles...Romeo and Juliet. A crocodile snapping turtle...Oscar.

We love them all.....we are a full house!

Hugs!
Deb

If I had two more legs and a tail I'd have it made around here. I love our cats, but my wife lets them do whatever they want. They get to sleep, no choirs, get treats............hey wait a minute, I'm a cat.

We always had cats and dogs around. I don't think there was a cat that wandered in that didn't end up becoming ours. I grew up on a farm so we tended to let the cats do their thing until we ended up with 15 kittens at one time. After that we spayed and neutered even if they were going to be barn cats.

My daughter adopted a chihuahua from the shelter and she was the sweetest thing ever though she did have a napoleon complex when out for walks. She lived to be around 14. Since then she has adopted 2 Jack Russell/rat terrier mixes. It is a lively house, lol.

Next weekend, it all goes well, I will be bringing home a mexican hairless from a rescue in Pittsburg, PA. I cannot wait for my "velcro" dog. I have been missing having a pet. When my last one passed I was working so many hours it wouldn't have been fair to the pet. Now I have lots of time and love to share. There really is nothing like the love of a pet and adopted is the best kind. Enjoy your new friend.

What wonderful stories of beloved pets! Keep them coming! It's so great to hear from so many people who feel like I do about animal abuse. I couldn't imagine a home without dogs or cats. I don't plan to, either!

Big group hug!

Cherry (Ricky, Sophie, Leo and Trixie, too.)