Dogs have a special place in society. They live in our homes, become parts of our families, and always know how to put smiles on our faces. Adopting a dog, as devoted owners all know, is a commitment to a long-term relationship. It takes work, it takes patience, and it takes heart. Adopting a rescue dog takes all of that and more. Is it worth it? Absolutely. Not only has my dog Brett, a mini poodle rescue from a puppy mill, filled my life with happiness and made every day special, he has taught me some of the most important lessons I've ever learned about trauma, recovery, and unconditional love.
1. Recovery from struggles is a struggle in its own right.
Rescue dogs are called rescue dogs because they had to be saved from something. Puppy mills, for instance, are horrible places where dogs are used as breeders to supply pet stores with puppies. Breeders are kept in cramped quarters with many other dogs, often in wire cages stacked on top of each other, and are usually given water from bottles--meant for watering animals like rabbits and guinea pigs--which leads to severe dental issues. Because of these conditions, when Brett was rescued, his hair was overgrown and matted, most of his teeth needed to be pulled, and he had sores on the bottoms of his feet. He had behavioral issues, fear of most people and loud noises, and no house or leash training. He needed to be shaved almost to his skin, get all of his shots, get neutered, and spend weeks being socialized before I was able to hold him. He wasn't used to gentle contact from humans, being walked on a leash, or even eating the right type and amount of food for his health. He had--and in some ways still has--a long way to go to heal from the grotesque circumstances he was rescued from.
The first time I got to hold Brett he took a nap right there in my lap.
2. There is no magic formula for a perfectly trained dog.
This goes for every dog, but rescue dogs come with quirks on top of quirks on top of bad habits. An adult rescue, like Brett, will have gone longer without proper training. Thus, it will take longer to properly train them. When I first took Brett home, he had a LOT to learn. I admit, it was sometimes frustrating. But I had a lot to learn myself. Rescue dogs are the way they are for reasons you may never know. Why does Brett let me trim his hair but struggle and run away when I try to trim his claws? Why does he seem afraid of men, but loves to cuddle with girls? Why do some loud noises scare him but not others? I don't know. I don't know his past. I don't even know his exact age! But the consequential quirks and weird little habits are the things that I need to learn before I can really train him.
3. Your "soulmate" dog might be the ugliest dog in the shelter, but true love trumps looks every time.
Yes, this is something many of us have to learn. If you want a certain breed or a certain type of dog for its looks, that is your choice, and it's no reason for anyone to judge you. But if you are adopting a rescue dog, you have to accept that shelters and clinics aren't designer dog boutiques. If you are looking for an accessory, you are in the wrong place. But if you are looking for a companion, an addition to your family, and the perfect dog for you, your heart should be open to the scruffy, one-eyed, toothless, balding, over-bred, under-fed oddballs who are searching for the person who will love them to death. I picked Brett because he and I had a connection that almost felt like magic. Were there prettier dogs all around him? You bet. But the funny little poodle with the crooked underbite and hunched back stole my heart when he picked me to be his mama.
4. Every new experience is special, and every day is a new adventure.
A rescue dog will never take your love for granted. Likewise, a rescue dog will never take anything for granted, no matter how commonplace, if it's new. Finding out your rescue dog's favorite treats is an experience worth all the money you spend at the store buying different flavors and brands. Every little bit of progress in a rescue dog's recovery is a new thrill. Every time I find a new way to make Brett happy, I get an extra special feeling knowing his life will never be what it was before.
Yep, I know his favorite treats.
5. Rescue dogs can do anything other dogs can do.
Sure, people will always tell you to beware: rescue dogs are more work, rescue dogs are more trouble, rescue dogs need more medical attention, rescue dogs are this, rescue dogs are that, but never write a dog off because it's had a hard life. After all, you wouldn't want someone to underestimate you based on your past, would you? Brett and I do everything together. He comes along with me on bike rides, sits with me on café patios, makes new friends with me, and even helps me with homework.
Well, he tries.
My point is a rescue dog might come with a little extra baggage, but an owner is the one who decides how far a dog goes in life. You can make a difference in a dog's life. You can create a new, wonderful, love-filled world for a rescue dog, and they can do the same for you. Take it from Brett and me.
