Okay I admit it. I was raised a doggie elitist. My first dog, whose name I can't remember, was with for just a few days. She was a purebred German Shepherd who cried, whined, and whimpered all through the night. My parents, who were none to keen about the idea of a dog in the first place, decided that listening to me ask, "Can we have a dog?", twenty times a day was preferable to listening to her whine.

It took me another couple of years to wear them down to try a dog again.  It was a big deal, my parents wanted to surprise me but my brother came running up to me when I got home from school and said "There's a dog in your room.”  That’s how Beau, Sir Beaureguard Brummell, a purebred Pug came to live with me. I still remember some of his pedigree, not because I was into doggie lineage, but because his father's name was Sir Phillwill of Shortsnort, how cool was that? I am happy to report that Beau made it through those first couple of nights with us, and kept us as his humans for the next 9 years of his life.

As an adult living on my own, my first dog was an Australian Shepherd named Dfer, as in "D fer dog". I know it sounds pretty corny but I thought it was a cool name at the time. The Australian Shepherd is definitely the dog for me. The general personality of the Aussie is a perfect match to my own and it's hard for me to imagine that Aussies' won't be a part of my life until I die.

When my current Aussie, Gavin, turned one year old, my wife, Jackie, and I discussed getting a playmate for him. At the time we both worked away from home and took Gavin to "Doggie Daycare" a couple days a week. We saw how much he enjoyed it, and that his demeanor around other dogs would allow us to get another companion for him, and for us. Jackie was helping to teach puppy classes at the daycare center and heard from a lady in the class, who worked at the local animal shelter, about some of the shelter dogs. After visiting the shelter for the first time, Jackie and I both knew that shelter and rescue dogs would be part of our lives for as long as our Aussies would.

Our current pack consists of my wife and me, Gavin our Aussie, and Annie a Hurricane Katrina rescue. Annie is a Spaniel mix who is nothing like Gavin. She is very shy and reserved, absolutely terrified of thunderstorms and strong winds, (hmm wonder why), and is leery of men with loud voices (which I have). Yet she gives me as much joy and pleasure as any dog could. When she manages to forget her troubles and relaxes, there is no dog on the planet that enjoys life more. She loves to play soccer and will leap five or six feet in the air to catch her favorite ball, running back to you and dropping the ball at your feet and bounding from side to side until you send it sailing again. She is truly a joy and deserves a place in our home.

There are dogs out there now, in shelters and at rescue organization that will bring as much joy into your life as Annie and Gavin have brought my wife and me. They deserve a chance to live in a home where they can be a true companion. Our Adoption / Rescue page contains resources to help you find that special dog, or to find people who can help a dog in need.