Here is tonight’s rescue story:

Bigger dog Onion was abandoned as a pup. He was the last of his siblings to be adopted because he was scared and neurotic after whatever happened to him before he came to Scottsville Veterinary Adoptions, near Rochester, New York (www.petadoption.cc). I saw him during one of the shelter’s adoption days at a big-box store. He was in a crate, terrified, and when I walked in, he looked over his shoulder at me, and I was smitten. He’s been with us for almost 10 years, and has done a really amazing job of stabilizing himself. He’s still terrified of thunderstorms and skateboards—of course, Dogs at Play dog daycare is right next to a skateboard shop—but he climbs trees, barks his fool head off at all parcel delivery people, and basically has a happy life as a dog stereotype.

Little guy spooning him is Tater, who came from a high-kill shelter and Ohio through http://anotherchancepetrescue.org/, also near Rochester, NY. The little guy and the big guy are totally in love, despite little guy’s piercing ‘yip,’ obsession with stealing tennis balls, and near-total breakdown due to an immune response to a silicone-coated microchip. Microchip is gone (insert jokes about saline, rather than silicone, implants here), little guy is recovered, and the humping has begun again.

Separately and together, they are marvelous, funny, sweet creatures, and the folks who do this rescue work in the Rochester area are amazing. We are forever grateful.

Remember, pets are great, but they require a lot of money, care, time, and love.

*** Update ***

I was going through old folders and found this gem:

Without a pet, you are missing out on the unconditional love they give.

Here is another great story:

This is how I found Murphy, the Best Dog in the World. My kids and husband were ready for a dog long before I was. We already have two young cats, and my last dog was difficult to say the least. He was a shelter pup who turned out to have really dominant aggression issues—bit multiple people (including me) before we finally found the right training and routine for him. He never did become a lovey dog, and he was completely untrustworthy around kids, but we worked it out. However, that experience left me somewhat anxious about dogs—especially after we had kids.

This summer, I read all the details of the saga of JC looking for a dog, finding Missy/Lily, preparing for her to come home, helping her adapt, etc. I thought about how happy he seemed, and listened to all you snarky folks testify on the happiness your dogs bring…so I did some research, and found the local breed rescue for golden retrievers. It took me quite some time to make the move, do the paperwork and be evaluated…etc. When they called in mid-July and said they had a young male dog named Buddy (all homeless goldens are named Buddy, it seems), I was overwhelmed with worry. I thought, I don’t know his past. What if he bites one of the kids? What if the fact that he’s not neutered yet means he’ll be aggressive, even after neutering? Etc. My husband and I went to meet him, and though he was very friendly and nice, I still wasn’t sure. DH was ready to bring him home that day, but all my anxieties were making me fear dog ownership. Then we thought, OK, let’s take the kids and see what he thinks of them. We told the children: don’t run up to him. Let him approach. Don’t grab, extend your hand fist down. Blah blah safetycakes. Of course, we got there, they ran flying up to this dog, grabbed him to pet him, and fell to the ground with him, where he flopped over and put his head in my 5-year-old’s lap and started getting belly rubs. So much for caution.

We named him Murphy, and he is the sweetest, most easygoing creature on the planet. He came home to us skinny, with mats all over, three kinds of parasites, and his ears full of gunk. Despite the fact that he spent most of his early life tied to a tree in someone’s yard, he loves everyone, including the cats (who only sort of love him back). He lets all the neighbor children pile on him, he loves to go places and see new people, he lets us do all grooming and stuff, and all he asks is cuddles and food. I feel like John said about Lily—this is one of the best decisions I ever made as an adult. Goldens are sort of the happy stoners of the dog world, and Murphy is even happier and more lovey than most.

Middle TN Golden Retriever Rescue, http://www.rescueagolden.org. I started volunteering with them right after we got Murph, and it’s amazing to contribute to these wonderful rescue stories.

So none of you knew that your dog testimonials were helping this lurker along the road to dog life…but never fear, even when he ate my favorite red shoes, I didn’t say “FY John Cole and Balloon Juice!” I just told Murphy, “who’s a bad dog? You are! Yes, you are, you sweet thing!” Thanks, JC and BJ.

Going to be a fun few weeks, because we have a lot of these stories.

So why not treat yourself to a furry friend? Lots of adoption stories coming in, but I loved this one because it was a great story plus it had a picture of a pet in a compromising position, and I thought it would break up a dull afternoon:

This is Dolce, she is a greyhound rescued from Ireland. She was hit by a car after being released from the race track because she was too small to race so we don’t know her true age. She was found with a band of gypsies and a badly broken leg and an Irish rescue arranged with our greyhound rescue here in Mass. to fly her here for surgery. Unfortunately they could not save her leg and after multiple surgeries actually removed the entire leg and shoulder blade. This is her halloween costume and as you can see we gave her a peg leg, unfortunately she wouldn’t wear the pirate hat, but she would wear the witch hat. She is a very happy dog and gets around great on 3 legs, she really has been a sweetheart. Greyhounds really are wonderful dogs.

The rescue we use is Greyhound Friends Inc. of Massachusetts. They are at greyhound.org. Since we banned greyhound racing in the state they have a lot of dogs at this time. There are 44 currently listed on their website and the rescue is not equipped to handle nearly that many, and we already have 2 in a 500 sq ft apartment. My wife won’t let me get another one.

If you live in the area and think a Greyhound might be a good choice, you know where to go and what to do. But remember, pets are a lot of fun, but they are also a lot of responsibility and they cost money. They need medical care and food and attention and walks, so make sure you are prepared for the commitment.

I’m shooting for pictures of animals that were adopted because of what people here have said in the comments or on the front page. I’ve read a number of you say that Lily and Tunch and other people’s pets have inspired you to get a dog or cat for yourself, now I’d like to see the pictures and a link to your respective pet adoption agency. That way I can show a picture of your pet and direct people in your area to a reliable place to adopt pets.

I just know that my quality of life would never, ever, be the same without these two. Between Tunch lying on my chest every morning purring, waking me up for breakfast, and Lily getting so excited any time I come home that she licks my glasses or slips me tongue while pretending to just kiss me (the SLUT!), I just don’t know what I would do without these two. I honestly can’t imagine life without them, and I don’t think people understand how much they are missing by not having pets. So let’s give more people reasons to adopt. Send us your pics, send us your stories, send us your misgivings before adopting, and tell us why it was the best thing you ever did.

And I’m writing this with Lily on my lap and Tunch attacking my hands while perched on the desk. And I would not have it any other way.

*** Update ***

For example, without pets, you will never have an action packed life that involves seat of the pants drama like this:

Let’s be serious, folks. There is a reason the action packed Tunch Cams are a hit!

The pictures tell the tale:

I was a big fan of this maneuver by Lily, as she attempted to pretend she was just sniffing the ground and not paying attention to the cat as she nonchalantly edged closer and closer. The cat was having none of that.

I didn’t get the actual attack because I was laughing too hard, but I did get this parting shot:

Really was a beautiful cat.

Yes, I still love Tunch, and yes, I have had a cocktail or three, but hands down the best decision I have made in the last ten years was adopting Lily. Every time I come home, I’m treated like the king I think I am.

*** Update ***

Laphroiag on the rocks, also. With a Tunch hair in it! Which is the only way it has ever been served in my household.

I’m off to watch WVU either get killed by a far superior team or stage a miraculous upset. Not going to be an in between, I’m afraid. I’ll leave you with this:

That is the “you know I’m cute gimme treats” look.

*** Update ***

This comment cracked me up, because I found it in the spam filter:

Woohoo! Multi-paragraph blockquote success!

Someone fights mightily with WP, manages to pull off a successful double paragraph blockquote, and their celebratory comment goes into moderation. That is all kinds of awesome.

FYWP.

Just a reminder, tomorrow is the selection day for the final four for the Cutest Dog, and we are all still pulling for Little Bitsy:

A special thanks to those of you who privately sent checks to Evelyn to help with dog rescue efforts.

He’s eight years old today, and has been living with us for the last three. When the Spousal Unit picked him up from the nice breed-rescue foster family in Pennsylvania, they told him [name redacted] was the “perfect” Papillon—good-looking, not noisy, reliably housebroken, used to leashes & crates, friendly with cats and other dogs. They couldn’t understand how his original family could ever have given him up! Forty-eight hours after arriving at our house, the New Guy jumped out an open window into a cold, drizzly November twilight, landed on gravel six feet (more…)

She can sing this to John.

Little dogs are experts at the oooooo choruses!

Getting ready for my trip tomorrow, so I dropped Tunch off at Tammy’s and took Lily to my brother’s. As I was driving away from my brother’s, he was walking her in the house, and she struggled so much that she got out of her collar and came chasing after the car. I had to stop in the middle of the road and grab her and he had to carry her, whining, into the house. She’s apparently been crying ever since.

I has a sad.

And you need to vote for Little Bitsy one more time. Apparently Bitsy won week twelve, but now they are deciding the top four of the twelve or something.

BTW- here is the official announcement.

To vote for Bitsy.

We can break 9k folks.

*** Update ***

For the Tunch fans:

*** Update #2 ***

For the victor:

Never had a problem with Vista, but am about to upgrade to Windows 7. If you don’t hear from me again, you know why. Also, vote for Little Bitsy:

Every vote counts.

After Tunch’s Excellent Adventure (aka John Cole’s Very-Bad-No-Good-Terrible-Horrible Evening), possibly I was just primed to pick up this local news story…