Loving those who want nothing more than to love back

One of the most rewarding and at the same time heartbreaking things I've ever done is volunteer at the animal rescue league. I was there this morning, walking the dogs and signing up to help in whatever way I can. The positive thing was that there were only about 5 dogs there, which is far less than the last time I went. The 3 dogs I walked were all terrier/pit bull mixes or looked like them. And though they looked like tough dogs, they were unbelievably sweet (and strong, talk about a workout!). I hope someone gives them the time to see past their square heads and frames and realizes that they are the dog for them.

The first was Rudolph, a playful little boxer/pit bull terrier mix. Once we got outside he grabbed the leash and wanted to play tug of war. He definitely needs a little discipline and training, but he will wear out any kids!

The second one made my sister-in-law a little nervous because of his size and apparent strength. I looked at little Jose's info and it said nothing about trouble, so out he came. A fellow volunteer gave me a warning that he was a jumper, but I saw no indication of this while walking him. He is most certainly house trained, because as soon as we made it outside he bee lined for the snow and did his business. I couldn't think of how hard it must be for him when he needs to relieve himself in his kennel because he has no other option. It also broke my heart when he headed straight back to the shelter doors once he was done. No playing, no running, just did his business and went back inside. But he does gladly accept attention. He needs a family who will appreciate this little gentleman.

The third, and the one that touched my heart the most, was Jax. A larger pit bull terrier, Jax was very well behaved beyond a bit of pulling. When they said eyes are the windows to the soul, they had this dog in mind. Beautiful amber eyes that just radiated happiness, excitement, love and sadness. He did not want to go back into the kennel. He saw the door, stopped, and lowered his head, staring mournfully up at me. My heart broke.

But good news! I spoke to them about the Snuggles project, and they were VERY receptive. I'll be bringing in a couple next week with more information. This makes me very happy. Now I just need to find some other local knitters and crocheters to contribute as well.

I'll keep you updated. But if you can, donate to your local shelter, volunteer when you have a few hours, if nothing else, give your furry friend a hug. These animals need and deserve love, and interaction is vital to their hopes for being adopted.