Making a PAWsitive Difference!

Today was a beautiful day.


I was crowned Miss Vermont USA in November.  Shortly after this, my little sidekick Mildred passed away after 14 wonderful years together.  She was truly my dog, and I was devastated.  Anybody who has lost a pet knows how tough it can be when their furry friend isn't there to greet me at the door anymore at the end of the day.

 

  Mildred & I did everything together... she went to work with me at the NH hospice and horse farms, she slept in my bed, rode in my car everywhere, and even got smuggled into college.  She was my little baby.  She actually has a facebook page also: Mildred Carter.  She was a little celebrity because of her unique looks & personality.  She even stayed in the Sheraton with my family when I won Miss Vermont USA, cheering me on in her own special way... here is the picture from later that night:

I finally decided a few weeks ago that I was ready for a new furry friend.  After some research, I discovered...

• About 63% of households in the U.S. have pets... 75 million dogs and 85 million cats!
• Most pets come from family or friends.  About 15-20% of dogs are purchased from breeders, 10-20% of dogs adopted from shelters/rescues, and 2-10 percent are purchased from pet shops
• 5-7 million dogs & cats enter animal shelters nationwide every year, and about 3-4 million are euthanized (60% of dogs & 70% of cats!!!!!)

Given these sobering statistics, I was determined to save a dog who really needed a home.  I contacted several local rescues and was absolutely overwhelmed by the amount of dogs that needed homes!  Most of these dogs came from shelters down south with high euthanization rates... the rescues take in these dogs and give them another chance.  I thought it was going to be so hard to pick just one... but then I read the description for this dog:

Good Karma Rescue said that this little lady was a gentle, sweet, snuggly stray from Georgia who was rescued with just 11 hours left before her euthanization time.  I fell in love with her before I even met her!  We coordinated our "blind date" with her foster mom for today, and if all went well I was to take her home.  I was a bit nervous... adopting a dog is a huge decision!  Lucky for me, she was everything that Good Karma Rescue had said.  What a sweet little dog!  Very mellow, but she enjoys a good run... just like me!

 

She is a princess already!!!

She is probably about 4 years old, but who really knows.  I can only imagine what the poor little pup has been through... being a stray is no fun.  Maybe she had a family before that.  But then she ended up in a cage in a shelter, until Good Karma Rescue took her to a foster home in Vermont... but she doesn't have to worry anymore.  She's with me now!  And she is sleeping at the foot of my bed as I write this blog.  We went for a long walk and had some good snuggles today... I am just thrilled.  She LOVES my bed and has excellent manners.  I cannot imagine how she could possibly be unwanted.  She is just a sweetheart!

Here are some links to rescues and adoption sites that you should DEFINITELY look at next time you are looking for a furry new family member!

• Good Karma Rescue
• All Breeds Rescue VT
• Petfinder
• Adopt A Pet