The Watauga Humane Society is breaking ground on its new animal
shelter complex this Saturday. As the pet-loving bunch we are,
your Mountain Times staff is excited about this new opportunity
to serve some of the county’s furrier residents. Here are
some of the reasons why, and check out www.wataugahumanesociety.org
while you’re at it.
Emily Robb Morris: Went for
One, Came Home with Two
Zoey and Jax — best friends
forever. |
It all started on Jan. 24, with a plan to go retrieve
a dog from the local Humane Society. We were participating in
the Change a Pet’s Life Day. My husband and I woke up early,
excited for the day’s events, and headed on down to the local
shelter in Boone. We were the first to arrive to ensure the pick
of the litter. They gave us instructions, and we entered the concrete
shelter that housed the dogs. I had picked one out from oogling
him in the paper earlier that week, and found my future puppy
(Jax) in the third row on the left. They told me he was a pit/lab
mix, and was 12 weeks old. Part pitbull didn’t scare me after
looking into that sweet, innocent boy’s face, and I knew
I had to have him. I hadn’t even gone into the cage yet,
just a feeling I had.
I dunked the soles of my shoes into the waterbucket at the entrance
of the kennel, and walked into the pen. Little did I know, Jax
had a kennel-mate. A female, brindle colored pit/blue-tick coonhound
mix that was only 10 weeks old popped her head up from under the
blanket when we stepped in to the cage. There was that feeling
again. I glanced at my husband, he already knew what was
coming, and gave me the nod. She is named Zoey. They are the sweetest,
most caring and devoted dogs a human could ever have. They have
unconditional love, for us and each other. If only humans could
possess such characteristics. Thank you to our local Humane Society
for helping bring two great additions to our family – we
realized we needed them as much as they needed us.
Sandy Shook:A
Love Connection
Sandy Shook did not have
a photo of Pumpkin on hand, so here’s a shot of a
kitten in a basket of yarn. |
I’m a firm believer in adopting
from the Humane Society. One of my treasured pets was acquired
from the Boone facility. This particular adoption occurred years
ago, and “Pumpkin” quickly became a part of the family.
The adoption took place when the Humane Society was struggling,
both financially and physically, and I dropped by their shelter
on a whim, but came home with a treasure. At the time, a box
of puppies had been dropped off unattended at the shelter gate
just days before I paid the shelter a visit. When I saw the
puppies, they were so very small, and the breed really couldn’t
be determined. The staff was concerned about adopting them out
because of their age, but that didn’t deter me. I fell
in love with the balls of fur and picked out a female and took
it home. I was living with my Mom at this time, and the puppy
was so small that I put it in my purse. I came into the house
and to where mom was sitting and just pulled the pup out of
my purse. Mom screamed and jumped. She thought it was a rat.
That was how Pumpkin was introduced to the family. The next
day, or so, we took the pup to the veterinarian, and he shared
some disconcerting news. The puppy may not live because it was
so small and separated from its mom too soon. I was heartbroken,
afraid that my newfound friend might die. But with the help
of mom, an eye-dropper and lots affection, the pup grew and
thrived. During this time, my mom was recovering from a cancer
operation, and she and Pumpkin bonded about as closely as I
had with the pup. It was good therapy for mom to care for the
pup, and I believe it was her constant care that helped the
pup survive. And she did. I had Pumpkin for 16 years. The little
ball of fur (hence her name) was a great companion for both
me and my Mother.
She’s passed, but since then there have been other family
members added. Another was Bailey, and she, too, lived a long
and good life. So, the shelter served and is serving as a “love
connection,” where one can find that special friend whose
friendship lasts for years.
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