HI, MY NAME IS FRANNIE

That's how the note started that was "delivered" with Frannie to the local pound. I put delivered in quotes because dumped is probably more appropriate when the package was a 14 year old boston terrier who had been with one owner her whole life.

Frannie's Mom is 88 and went to a nursing home facility. Frannie went to the pound, courtesy of Mom's grown children.

BTRNC got the plea and came to the rescue of this lovely senior lady and got her out of the pound. The volunteer who picked her up posted that when the officer opened her cage, she RAN to the front door wagging her tail. She slipped a lead around her neck and off they went. When they got to the car, she put Frannie in the passenger seat and said, "Frannie, you are outta there." Frannie answered by leaning down and licking our volunteer's hand as she used the gear shift to back out of the parking lot. Any doubt that dogs know what is going on?

This is the picture that we received from the pound.

This is the picture that was snapped after the kiss in the car.

Yup, same dog.

The main purpose of this blog is not to express anger at those who put Frannie in a pound, but to drive the point home to everyone that we need to make solid arrangements for our pets in the event of our death. Animal Control is a scary place for any animal. Think how much more this is true for seniors who have lived the good life into their teen age years and suddenly find them themselves in a cage, in a very stark cold and NOISY environment with nothing but strangers. Surely, we cannot want this for our beloved companions who have no choice in any of this and certainly are grieved enough that you are gone.

Shelters and pounds are over crowded. Senior dogs in pounds have little to no chance as they are euthanized quickly to make room for younger more adoptable dogs. Don't let the cold environment of a pound be the last thing they know. Take the steps to secure a place and have a legal document prepared and signed by all involved and put it with your will. There is no social services for animals. No nice lady is going to come to your house and take your pets into the system and find them a foster home. It's up to us to do for them what they cannot do for themselves.

Please remember Frannie's story and take the time to create a very different story for your beloved pets.

Frannie is doing great in foster care and 24 hours after being rescued was doing the "happy roll" on the sofa. Stomach up, legs curled, back on surface and commence to wiggle and roll! Frannie is going to be just fine!

THANK YOU FOR VISITING OUR SITE AND CONSIDERING RESCUE

I was in Pets Mart the other day and a woman emerged from the grooming area with two absolutely beautiful Great Pyrenees dogs who had just been groomed. I love this breed and had to stop to pet them. The conversation turned to her delight that I knew the breed and my explanation about rescue and passion for dogs. She then told me that she had considered rescue, but

"they put you through the mill, interrogate you, inspect your house and charge you a lot of money to save a dog's life".

She then said that these two were retired show dogs that had gotten for free from the breeder who no longer had use for them.

So... I want to take this opportunity to ask our visitors, volunteers, and readers to help us explain why we do what we do and what we do and DO NOT want to accomplish.

1. We spend thousands of dollars annually in vet care including surgery, medication, follow-up visits, etc. All our dogs are neutered or spayed and up to date on all vaccinations before they are adopted. We use the money paid to adopt one of our babies to cover these vet costs. We do not profit from these fees.

2. We visit your home because we want to make sure you do indeed have a home and if you rent, that the landlord will allow you to have a dog. Remember, we have met you over the Internet and telephone calls. We in no way want to scrutinize your decor, house cleaning habits, size of shape of your home or the condition of your furniture. We feel awkward showing up at your front door and imposing on your time and space. We may be able to make suggestions that you may not have thought of such as, the gaps in your picket fence are wide enough for a boston to slip through, or the slats on your deck are too wide for your dog to be out off a leash. Most importantly, we thank you for allowing us into your home.

3. We do try our best to match the right dog with the right family so we do have lots of conversations. If you have 3 cats and we know from the foster family that the dog you have picked out on our home page chases and terrifies cats, we want you to know that. If you have 2 young children and your "favorite" dog has a history of snapping at children, we want you to know that as well. If through speaking with you, we come to understand that you want a high energy dog to join you on your hikes, we may already know one in rescue who loves to do just that. If you express a love for seniors or special needs dogs, we can help you make that selection as well.

We do everything we do for one reason: to take all imaginable steps to make sure the dog will be safe and does not return to us as a failed adoption. These babies have already been bounced around from a home to a shelter, or a chain to a shelter to a home to a foster home. They have been used for breeding with no socialization, they have been crated 20 hours a day, been abused for acting out, been chained outside in all weather, and some have been loved beyond measure until their person passed away. It is their time to be secure again in a FOREVER HOME. If we don't do these things, we are not fulfilling our promise to our rescues that we will care for and protect them until they are placed in a loving home.

We THANK YOU for understanding all these things and for considering rescue! Without you, we could not continue to save these precious lives.

Patty(top), Oliver and Austin thank you too and wish you the happiest of Easters!