'Twas the week before Christmas

One week before Christmas and there are so many homeless shelter pets who will spend yet another holiday without a family.
I have always had very affectionate dogs. My dogs, even the Rottweilers, believed they were lap dogs and would smother you with kisses as they were climbing in your lap. When I adopted Buzz, that stopped. Buzz is a great dog but I don't believe he was ever allowed to show affection in his previous home and is still not sure, even after 3 years, what his boundaries are. He wags his tail and will come up for a face rub or a back scratch, but that is his limit. No belly rubs or climbing in your lap for him. Which is okay. I have never wanted him to feel uncomfortable and I don't believe he feels comfortable doing those things.
Betty,on the other hand, is a lover. Given even the slightest bit of enouragement, she is on your lap giving you kisses.
I am reminded of how much the dogs I work with really miss having a family unit. Many of them were relinquished by their owners for whatever reason and have no idea how they ended up in a shelter situation. They are confused and scared, with eyes pealed at the walkways, just waiting for their family to return to get them.
Two years ago, right about this time, we received a dog from a family who lost thier home. They had a couple of kids and werfe giving up their dog, temporarily, while they hunted for another place to live. They were going to come out and visit with the kids and take him for the weekend, etc. until they found new living arrangements.
I watched Buckeye watch for his people week after week. The first 3 months or so, they would come back and take him for a day every couple of weeks. He loved his kids and Mom and Dad.
Then it stopped. He kept watching and they never came back. So now it has been two years and he still doesn't have a family.
Buckeye is a hound. A true hound. I couldn't find a photo of him, but I am sure he would become just as affectionate with a new family as he was with his old one.
If you would like to give the best Christmas present of all, please consider adopting a homeless dog or cat this holiday season. We in the rescue world would like nothing better than to know another pet was in a safe and secure home for the holidays with people who would love them, despite any quirks they may have.
Buzz and Betty, along with Hazel and Kinzie, would like to think all of there canine compatriots would end up as lucky as them
Satchel's Last Resort, where I volunteer, has so many dogs looking for a new home. Although I hate labeling, we are a sanctuary but by adopting one of ours, you make room for one more we can take from Animal Services who may be in danger.
Please check us out at www.satchelslastresort.org or your local rescue or humane society.

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