I love my dog. I fully believe he’s the sweetest creature I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing.
I know all pet owners say that but that’s just a testament to how our animals change our lives.
After our old family dog passed away, we all hated coming home to an empty house. We had the one criteria when we began looking for our new family member; we wanted a hypoallergenic mutt. No, not because we couldn’t deal with shedding, but because we all have had allergies our whole lives and it was the right decision to make.
So we set upon our search.
First, we looked at rescues. We all loved the idea of adopting and giving a dog a good home. The thing is, we got turned down by many rescues because we didn’t have a fenced yard and because both of my parents worked full time.
After the constant rejection we stopped looking for a while but one day my mom and I wandered into a local pet store and there he was: a two-month Goldendoodle who needed a home.
I’m not going to lie to you, it was love at first sight.
I know that sounds silly because I’m talking about a dog but it’s true! Harley is an amazing animal! He’s not only adorable but he’s incredibly sweet and caring. When I first started to experience migraines, he always knew when I wasn’t feeling well and would often sleep at my feet or jump on my bed until the pain and dizziness passed. An animal’s intuition still astonishes me.
But, that’s not the point of this story.
Several months ago, I took Harley to a dog park where a fellow owner lectured me on how she would never buy her dog from a breeder or a store.
At first, it didn’t bother me but as she continued to talk to me, I realized she was trying to shame me for buying my dog instead of rescuing him.
From my point of view, only one thing matters: that our pets have loving and caring homes.
I know this woman at the dog park was a rarity. I know many people who have rescued, I know many people who have gone to a breeder, and all of them are incredible dog owners.
All animals deserve a good home. Let’s focus on that instead of how they came into our lives because our pets don’t care about that, they care that you love them. I care that you love them.
So no matter how you got your four-legged best friend, just give them a hug and a good home and the reward will be unbelievable: love.