Photo © Susannah Kay
When I first met Quinn, he was a two to three month old pup with a soft orange and white coat and an even softer disposition. That was two years ago and I often find myself reflecting on the fact that the life of this adorable dog I love so dearly came disastrously close to being purposefully ended.
Quinn was one of many orphans in an overcrowded shelter in Bakersfield, California. The notion of “no kill” is nonexistent there, which is why this shelter is a regular stop for a wonderful rescue organization called The Dog Spot (http://members.petfinder.com/~CA1428/index.html). Their hard working volunteers make it a habit to scour the California central valley pulling adult dogs slated for euthanasia out of shelters. On what will always be Quinn’s luckiest day, The Dog Spot volunteers made an exception and opted to rescue a few puppies as well.
The Mighty Quinn Photo © Susannah Kay
The Dog Spot rescues are showcased on Petfinder (http://www.petfinder.com/index.html) and that’s exactly where my daughter began her search the minute our family agreed we were ready to add another dog to our family. The Petfinder photo of Quinn captured her attention and his personality captured all of our hearts. It has been an ongoing love affair ever since.
Why am I telling you all of this? The organizers of Petfinder are asking us to do something special in honor of their 15th birthday. They would like us to join together online on Tuesday, March 15th to promote the adoption of homeless pets. Frankly, I’m willing to do most anything Petfinder asks of me. Not only did they help my family find the world’s cutest dog, they work tirelessly to do a fabulous job rehoming millions of wonderful animals each and every year. Petfinder is truly remarkable and I am profoundly grateful to this fabulous organization.
Please, will you join the “Help Petfinder Adopt the Internet Day” effort on March 15th? Email your dog loving friends and relatives. Feel free to share this blog post with them. Heck, write a blog post of your own! Together we will increase awareness about adopting homeless pets and hopefully create the kinds of happy endings that Quinn and my family have enjoyed.
Do you have your own story about adopting a homeless pet? We’d love to hear it. Know of an animal who needs a home? On March 15th, please post a photo along with adoption contact information on my Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/speakingforspot).
Best wishes for good health,
Nancy Kay, DVM
Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine
Author of Speaking for Spot: Be the Advocate Your Dog Needs to Live a Happy, Healthy, Longer Life
Recipient, American Animal Hospital Association Animal Welfare and Humane Ethics Award
Recipient, Dog Writers Association of America Award for Best Blog
Recipient, Eukanuba Canine Health Award
Recipient, AKC Club Publication Excellence Award
Become a Fan of Speaking for Spot on Facebook
Please visit http://www.speakingforspot.com to read excerpts from Speaking for Spot. There you will also find “Advocacy Aids”- helpful health forms you can download and use for your own dog, and a collection of published articles on advocating for your pet’s health. Speaking for Spot is available at Amazon.com, local bookstores, and your favorite online book seller.