Muldrake's Mixed Breed Dogs
 Rocket Yogi & Bear 
To My Mixed Breed Dogs
Are People Too!
"Despite popular canine thought, the UPS man is not the anti-Christ!" courtesy of Bad Dog Page Some funny stuff here! I cannot tell you how many organizations I have contacted, who call themselves 'Rescue Groups', that have come back with comments in reply to my call for help for dogs about to be put to sleep because there is not enough room, which include remarks like: "That dog is a mix!" "That dog isn't a Bullmastiff, he's not even a Mastiff!" That's a collie Mix, we can't help you". How pathetic is that?! All dogs are worth saving, right? Mine were!
I saw this statement on a website about purebred whippets: "Most mixed dogs are the product of human ignorance and irresponsibility."
To give you some idea of how urgent the need is for these helpless dogs, I contacted a Border Collie Rescue about one of these dogs. The response I received back was that this dog was a mix, oh and, we have no room now. It makes me angry to see an organization call themselves a rescue group for dogs when they act like mixed-breed dogs are not worth rescuing. It shows how little they know about dogs. My dogs were certainly worth rescuing!
We acquried Bear from a friend my husband worked with. This friend's sister adopted Bear as a puppy from a shelter in Oklahoma. She was forced to move back home and there were already 2 dogs living there that did not accept Bear as part of their pack. We were looking for a dog to adopt at the same time that Bear was on his way back to the shelter. Bear was sixteen weeks old at the time. My husband's friend asked if we would like to bring Bear home to see if we liked him. We did and we have had him for over three years now. He has the energy of an Australian Shepherd and the intelligence of a Collie. The only complaint we have about Bear is that he guards his food. He does this, we figure, because the 2 dogs Bear lived with always stole his food. So we just feed him separated from our other 2 dogs, and we leave him alone while he eats.
Actually, there is one more thing I have to say about Bear that is not exactly a good thing. He used to pull on the leash when we walked him. I bought one of those harnesses that go around his body, under his shoulders, so we are not pulling on his neck to keep him from running. He is much better now, but he still likes to walk fast. He ran loose on an acre of land in Oklahoma all day and was locked up in a room at night, alone, with his former owners. So, we think it is not so bad. We just have to hold on tighter and keep nudging him and reminding him that he should slow down.
Yogi is the only one of the dogs who never had an accident in the house after he was fully housetrained, he would let you stick your entire face in his food bowl, and he would just eat around it. He also does not mind it if one of the kids accidentally wakes him up from a sound sleep. He is a real easy-going dog.
She had a rough time before coming to live with us. She was starved, and tied up outside all day and night. She had fly bites and was fearful with people at first. She was 18 months old when we adopted her. Her original name was Roxanne, but we wanted her to have a new name to go along with her new life in our home with us. We named her Rocket, after Roger Clemens, former pitcher for the New York Yankees. She is like a rocket, anyway. She zooms back and forth and she is always ready for something, just like a puppy. She is learning how to live inside with us.
When we first brought her home to live with us, her behavior was like that of a puppy's because she did not know what was expected of her inside. After about 6 months, she started getting the hang of retrieving a ball, but she still will not bring it back to us. She does not realize that we will throw it again for her to retrieve. She is extremely affectionate with people. Odd, considering the abusive situation she came from living with the other 'humans'.
She can open the refrigerator with her paw. She has stolen many sticks of butter. She is the only dog who steals food intentionally. If I drop food, the other two will go for it, Rocket goes for the food wherever she can get it. We tolerate it because she was so malnourished when we got her, that you could see every bone in her body. She has filled out nicely and is in excellent health. She is the goofiest of the dogs, and we love it!
Hey, we have a page on MySpace! Come and visit us and meet other doggie
pals:
We also have our own pages at Dogster here:
I will never bring about world peace. I won't single handily save the rain
forest.
I am not a brain surgeon, and I will never transplant an organ to save a
life. I don't have the ear of a powerful politician or world power.
I can't end world hunger. I am not a celebrity, and God knows I am not
glamorous! I am not looked up to by millions around the world. Very few
people even recognize my name.
I will never win a Nobel prize, or end global warming. There are a lot of
things I will never do or become....
But today I placed a Dog!!
It was a small, scared bundle of flesh and bones that was dropped off in a
shelter by people that didn't care what happened to it, but yet were
responsible for its very existence in the first place.
I found it a Home, a Forever Home!!
It now has contentment and an abundance of love. A warm place to sleep and
plenty to eat. Two little boys have a warm and fuzzy new friend who will
love them unquestioning, and teach them about responsibility and love.
A wife and a mother has a new spirit to nurture and care for. A husband and
father has a companion to sit at his feet at the end of a hard day of work
and help him relax and enjoy life.
No, I am not a rocket scientist... But TODAY, I made a difference!
-- Author Unknown --
Please visit the following shelters!
There are many stigmas about dogs, especially certain breeds of dogs.
Please visit the following website, which is a slide show about pitbulls. It is upsetting
but it drives home the message about the bad rap certain breeds of dogs get because of
the irresponsible and cruel guardians these poor dogs are unfortunately stuck with. Please take a
look at:
Why do you want a pet? It's amazing how many people fail to ask themselves this simple question before they get a pet. Adopting a pet just because it's "the thing to do" or because the kids have been pining for a puppy usually ends up being a big mistake. Don't forget that pets may be with you 10, 15, even 20 years.
Do you have time for a pet? Dogs, cats, and other animal companions cannot be ignored just because you're tired or busy. They require food, water, exercise, care, and companionship every day of every year. Many animals in the shelter are there because their owners didn't realize how much time it took to care for them.
Can you afford a pet? The costs of pet ownership can be quite high. Licenses, training classes, spaying and neutering, veterinary care, grooming, toys, food, kitty litter, and other expenses add up quickly.
Are you prepared to deal with special problems that a pet can cause? Flea infestations, scratched-up furniture, accidents from animals who aren't yet housetrained, and unexpected medical emergencies are unfortunate but common aspects of pet ownership.
Can you have a pet where you live? Many rental communities don't allow pets, and most of the rest have restrictions. Make sure you know what they are before you bring a companion animal home.
Is it a good time for you to adopt a pet? If you have kids under six years old, for instance, you might consider waiting a few years before you adopt a companion. Pet ownership requires children who are mature enough to be responsible. If you're a student, in the military, or travel frequently as part of your work, waiting until you settle down is wise.
Are your living arrangements suitable for the animal you have in mind? Animal size is not the only variable to think about here. For example, some small dogs such as terriers are very active—they require a great deal of exercise to be calm, and they often bark at any noise. On the other hand, some big dogs are laid back and quite content to lie on a couch all day. Before adopting a pet, do some research. That way, you'll ensure you choose an animal who will fit into your lifestyle and your living arrangements.
Do you know who will care for your pet while you're away on vacation? You'll need either reliable friends and neighbors or money to pay for a boarding kennel or pet-sitting service.
Will you be a responsible pet owner? Having your pet spayed or neutered, obeying community leash and licensing laws, and keeping identification tags on your pets are all part of being a responsible owner. Of course, giving your pet love, companionship, exercise, a healthy diet, and regular veterinary care are other essentials.
Finally, are you prepared to keep and care for the pet for his or her entire lifetime? When you adopt a pet, you are making a commitment to care for the animal for his or her lifetime.
Sure, it's a long list of questions. But a quick stroll through an animal shelter will help you understand why answering them before you adopt is so important.
Many of the shelter's homeless animals are puppies and kittens, victims of irresponsible people who allowed their pets to breed. But there are at least as many dogs and cats at the shelter who are more than a year old—animals who were obtained by people who didn't think through the responsibilities of pet ownership before they got the animal.
Please, don't make the same mistake. Think before you adopt. Sharing your life with a companion animal can bring incredible rewards, but only if you're willing to make the necessary commitments of time, money, responsibility, and love—for the life of the pet.
Intact Underwear - With a chewy puppy, you can count on at least 10 mismatched pairs of socks and a variety of unmentionables rendered to the "rag bag" before he cuts every tooth, and don't even think about shoes! Also, you can expect holes in your carpet (along with urine stains), pages missing from books, stuffing exposed from couches, and at least one dead remote control. No matter how well you watch them, it will happen--this is a puppy's job! An older dog can usually have the run of the house without destroying it.
A Good Night's Sleep - Forget the alarm clocks and hot water bottles, a puppy can be very demanding at 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. and 6 a.m. He misses his littermates, and that stuffed animal will not make a puppy pile with him. If you have children, you've been there and done that. How about a little peace and quiet? How about an older rescue dog?
Finish the Newspaper - With a puppy running amok in your house, do you think you will be able to relax when you get home from work? Do you think your kids will really feed him, clean up the messes, take him for a walk in the pouring rain every hour to get him housetrained? With an adult dog, it will only be the kids running amok, because your dog will be sitting calmly next to you, while your workday stress flows away and your blood pressure lowers as you pet him.
Easier Vet Trips - Those puppies need their series of puppy shots and fecals, then their rabies shot, then a trip to be altered, maybe an emergency trip or two if they've chewed something dangerous. Those puppy visits can add up (on top of what you paid for the dog!). Your donation to the rescue when adopting an older pup should get you a dog with all shots current, already altered, heartworm negative, and on preventative at the minimum.
What You See Is What You Get - How big will that puppy be? What kind of temperament will he have? Will he be easily trained? Will his personality be what you were hoping for? How active will he be? When adopting an older dog from a rescue, all of those questions are easily answered. You can pick large or small; active or couch potato; goofy or brilliant; sweet or sassy. The rescue and its foster homes can guide you to pick the right match (Rescues are full of puppies who became the wrong match as they got older!)
Matchmaker Make Me A Match - Puppy love is often no more than an attachment to a look or a color. It is not much of a basis on which to make a decision that will hopefully last 15+ years. While that puppy may have been the cutest of the litter; he may grow up to be super active (when what you wanted was a couch buddy); she may be a couch princess (when what you wanted was a tireless hiking companion); he may want to spend every waking moment in the water (while you're a landlubber); or she may want to be an only child (while you are intending to have kids or more animals). Pet mismatches are one of the top reasons rescues get "give-up" phone calls. Good rescues do extensive evaluating of both their dogs and their applicants to be sure that both dog and family will be happy with each other until death do them part.
Instant Companion - With an older dog, you automatically have a buddy that can go everywhere and do everything with you NOW. There's no waiting for a puppy to grow up (and then hope he will like to do what you enjoy.) You will have been able to select the most compatible dog: one that travels well; one that loves to play with your friends' dogs; one with excellent house manners that you can take to your parents' new home with the new carpet and the new couch. You can come home after a long day's work and spend your time on a relaxing walk, ride or swim with your new best friend (rather than cleaning up after a small puppy.)
Bond--Rescue Dog Bond - Dogs who have been uprooted from their happy homes or have not had the best start in life are more likely to bond very completely and deeply with their new people. Those who have lost their families through death, divorce or lifestyle change go through a terrible mourning process. But, once attached to a new loving family, they seem to want to please as much as possible to make sure they are never homeless again. Those dogs that are just learning about the good life and good people seem to bond even deeper. They know what life on the streets, life on the end of a chain, or worse is all about, and they revel and blossom in a nurturing, loving environment. Most rescues make exceptionally affectionate and attentive pets and extremely loyal companions.
Unfortunately, many folks think dogs that end up in rescue are all genetically and behaviorally inferior. But, it is not uncommon for rescues to get $500 dogs that have either outlived their usefulness or their novelty with impulsive owners who considered their dog a possession rather than a friend or member of the family; or simply did not really consider the time, effort and expense needed to be a dog owner. Not all breeders will accept "returns", so choices for giving up dogs can be limited to animal welfare organizations, such as rescues, or the owners trying to place their own dogs. Good rescues will evaluate the dog, rehabilitate if necessary, and adopt the animal only when he/she is ready, and to a home that matches and is realistic about the commitment necessary to provide the dog with the best home possible.
Choosing a rescue dog over a purchased pup will not solve the pet overpopulation problem (only responsible pet owners and breeders can do that), but it does give many of them a chance they otherwise would not have. But, beyond doing a "good deed", adopting a rescue dog can be the best decision and addition to the family you ever made. Rescue a dog and get a devoted friend for life!
Sadly, Misha has passed on to the Rainbow Bridge. However, she now feels no pain and she is able to run and play happily with all of the other animals while patiently waiitng for the day when she will be reunited with her special human loved ones.
Stop by Misha's Page and read all about this special dog who will be sorely missed by her loved ones. Be sure to visit Maggie at Maggie's Page and Dog Issues
About Dogs
PetFinder
Take a look at a page MoonCat Muldrake has started for Our Cat Spot!
Also visit: Spay/USA- and - The Human Society of the United States for more information on pet overpopulaton.
Missing Pets Network - Other States
Help us Stop the Promotion of Animal Cruelty
Links to Sites About Dogs
Emergency Vets on Animal Planet
Dog-Play; Behavior, Socialization, and Training
How to Love Your Dog Visit Sue's Furry Family by clicking on the banner below:
Any questions for Bear, Yogi, or Rocket?
My Dogs Are People Too! Guestbook
If you want to leave comments, visit my blogs for Bear, Yogi, and Rocket, and you may leave your comments there. I apologize for the inconvenience. You will still be able to View the comments in the guestbook, however by clicking on the view icon. They are brand new so there is not a lot there yet, but there will be soon. Thank You!
|
 |
| Previous | Next | Random | List | Join |
| Pets Are People Too ! is a proud Member of the Cool Mutts Club [ Prev | Random | List | Next5 | Next] Want to join the club? Get the info. |
|
 Animal Rescue is owned by B F Muldrake Next Skip Next Previous List Sites Want to join the ring? Click here for more information |
|---|
This Responsible Pet Owners site is owned by Pets Are People Too! |
| Previous 5 Sites | Skip Previous | Previous | Next | |
 |
This The Pets On The Net Webring site is owned by Pets Are People Too!. |
| Skip Next | Next 5 Sites | Random Site | List Sites | |
 |
| Next
Previous
Random
List
Join |
 site is owned by Blended Dogs Are People Too. Previous 5 Sites| Previous | Next Next 5 Sites | Random | List | Join |
|
I would like to know if anyone out there has dogs that look similar to mine.
As noted at the top of this webpage, I have found a few dogs that look like Bear.
If you think your dog looks like one of mine, I'd love to see a picture. Come back anytime and visit with:
  
|
Return to Muldrake's '24' Webpages