#ClearTheShelters

A friend of mine told me the other day that she read an article that listed the Jack Russell Terrier and the Beagle as two of the Top 10 breeds most commonly found at animal shelters. 
The Jack Russell Terrier  "The Jack Russell Terrier is a small dog packed with energy. Able to run laps around the most energetic human, the Jack Russell is often surrendered to shelters because owners simply don't have the time or energy to care for them. Terriers are also known for their escape routines, excessive barking and digging."

The Beagle Though loyal and sweet, Beagles can be a noisy neighbor. Considered a vocal breed that is known for its distinctive bray, Beagles are often relinquished because of their owner's frustrations over noise, or due to noise complaints from neighbors and landlords.

  These two breeds just happen to be the two breeds that I rescued. Both of my dogs were over a year old when I adopted them, and were both owner surrenders. 

I wanted to take today to thank those two owners, from the bottom of my heart, for surrendering them. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to bring two beating hearts into my home. Thank you for the loud, crazy, howling, out-of-control greeting I receive every single day when I walk in the door. That greeting got me through two of the hardest years of my life, and I can't tell you how much I appreciate the sacrifice you made to give up these two dogs that would have completely and utterly changed your life for the better, so that I could have them change mine.  
I love my babies more and more each day. I love General and Veenie more today than I did the day I met them, but not as much as I'll love them tomorrow. 
Hearing General's beagle howl when he spots a squirrel makes me run to the window to watch the chase begin. I feel sad when I take Veenie to daycare and I don't have a 20 pound dog jumping from couch-to-couch, and back again. Those two things are the things I love most about my babies, the things that makes them, them. 
I cannot imagine if I had passed on General because his howl was frustrating, or if I returned Veenie because I just ran out of the energyto take care of her. There has never been a day that has gone by that I wasn't greeted with pure excitement by my two babies when I walked in the door.   They've never let me down, and I promise that I will never let them down. 
If you want a love like that in your life, I highly recommend checking out the #ClearTheShelters event that is happening across the country today. On August 15th, shelters across the country are taking part in a nationwide push to place pets in forever homes. Hundreds of shelters have agreed to cut the cost of adoption for the one-day Clear the Shelters event. 
Someone better go grab Turbo before I do... I mean, he's just a small pup, perhaps CB won't even notice that there's a third puppy running around the house?   Interested? Click here to have your life changed.