Yahoo!

I have recently started contributing to Yahoo! and about three of my articles have been picked up. (YAY, and they actually pay!)One of my new submissions to yahoo is below....

As the owner of two dogs I must say that both of them are like my children. One is a rescue and one was purchased as a tiny, adorable puppy, from a breeder. As it stands both are amazing dogs. But, let it be said that

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 you can not buy a good dog no matter where you seek to find it. There is no 'good dog' section at the pet store or the pound. Raising a dog to live with you is a work of art. I am no Michelangelo. 

There is oft great debate between the benefits of starting from scratch with a tiny ball of fur that you pick out as a little baby and bring home while it still as that intoxicating puppy breath and the scary world of the recycled dog. I have both so this was something that was also a debate within the four walls of our home. 

Our first dog was purchased as a welcome home present for my husband. He was fresh from the combat fields of Iraq and man needed a best friend. We had emailed back and forth for most of his tour about getting our first dog together and when I found an add for a miniature pincher in the Sunday paper two weeks after he was state side it seemed that the fates had decided she was to be ours. So it was, we went to pick up our little monster. She is an excellent dog that needed to be taught everything. She now sleeps in our bed, under the covers, and needs to be fed at 2am. She is still on Iraq time. 

Our second dog was a pre-deployment present to me from my husband. He found a rescue dog with a back story. The dog had been abused, found wandering the streets starving, was ill, had no back toes, and was the cutest dog I had ever seen. My husband drove 5 hours into South Carolinato pick him up and it was love at first bite. 

North Carolina is a kill state and the dog that we rescued was on his way to be executed when the rescue saved him. My husband was immediately and permanently attached to this pup's story. We had to fix all of his ailments, train him to trust, help him to gain 15 pounds, and let him sleep in our bed. He too is on Iraq time. 

Preview of Why Rescue? - Page 2

All in all I would say that each experience has both draw backs and selling points. Sure a shiny new puppy was great and it made my husband smile. However, to see the progress with our rescue and to know that if not for

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 us this dog would have no one makes my husband remember the good and innocent things that we can do to change the world. 

The absolute more important thing about choosing a dog for you is to know that is a life long commitment. Rescue or pet shop, dogs are a challenge. However, they will give you back what you give them ten fold. Every time my husband's combat boots hit the floor of our home to our dogs it is like he never left. To them love is unconditional.