This was "Rubi" (formally named Dianne) when we picked her up at the shelter to take her to her new home. It was love at first sight for us and for her.
This is "Rubi" today.
If you knew this dog, you would realize how happy she is now. She loves to swim in the water, which is what she did shortly before this picture was taken. Her name is “Rubi,” and she is a 104 pound Airedale/Shepherd mix. She also loves going on hikes through the woods, riding in my Jeep, everything about being outdoors, and she loves us for the home that we have given her. She has shown us her gratitude for the new life that we provided, in so many ways, every day that she’s been with us.
But, her life wasn’t always a good one. This big, beautiful dog started life by being abandoned, along with her brother, at an industrial waste site when she was about six to eight months old. Through a series of fortuitous moves, she made her way to a local, no kill shelter: Friends of Homeless Animals. These wonderful people, who take care of so many different homeless, unwanted, and abandoned animals, took care of her from March, 2006 until we adopted her in December. She was one of the lucky ones. Her brother is still there along with so many other wonderful, well deserving animals. I wish that we could have taken them all home, but one was all that we could handle.
This sort of situation exists all over the world. This was our fourth adoption, and I can tell you that our experience with each of these animals has always been positive. The next time that you are looking for a pet, please check with your local shelter or rescue organization, and consider choosing your new pet from among the large number of animals that are out there in need of a new, loving home.
If you adopt a homeless animal, they will love you for it. I guarantee it.
Cline