When we first adopted this little Westie Mix from Animal Rescue in Florida, she was a mess.  She was malnourished, had not been leash-trained, and did not know how come, neither when we called her by her old name, nor by her new one.  Hannah has come a long way...

She had been so malnourished that her fur did not grow.  She lives a different life now.  Every helpless animal deserves a new chance at a new life.  I, personally, would never buy a dog or cat.  There are countless furry friends out there who need a good home.  The site I found Hannah through is Petfinder.  Petfinder is a database for adoptable animals that have gone through the rescue process.  Most cats and dogs listed on Petfinder has been through the ASPCA, or is currently there, waiting to be adopted.  Take Bear, for example.  He was rescued from a high-kill shelter.  

He is now a member of our family.  He is happy, playful, and is one heck of a guard dog.  I recommend adopting a pet from rescue to anyone who is looking to add to their family.  With a lot of love and a little patience, rescue animals will prove to be an integral element of what makes home feel like home. 

Fall is in the air.  The cool, clean, crisp smell of the outdoors is a simple reminder that winter is once again upon us.  There are few things I love more than taking a deep breath outside, right after dusk.  Ever since I was a child, I have always loved this time of the year.  I want to stay outside until winter rears its cold head.

As much as I adore autumn and the month of October, I realized something last week.  Most of the relationships I look back on and scoff about ended in the tenth month.  This year was different.  One of the most precious relationships I will ever have in my life didn't quite end in October, it changed.  My darling dog, Brandi, known by those who love her most as "Lurs," passed on after having spent the final four years of her life with me and my family.

Before her, I never knew what it felt like to fight for something that I knew in the entirety of my being was right.  You see, our story began on a blustery day in 2006.  When I met her, she had long, matted fur.  It was about 28 degrees outside, and it was raining.  She was tied to a tree.  She was emaciated and smelled awful.  The moment we set eyes upon each other, it was as if something clicked.  I instinctively knew that she was my charge.  I needed to take care of her.  Perhaps it was because of the fact that in that period of my life, my relationships were rough ones.  I had forgotten what unconditional love felt like.  I prayed, and prayed, and begged and begged for permission to be able to take her home.  She ended up in the car with us for the six hour ride home.  Rehabilitating an old dog is not a simple, nor inexpensive undertaking.  I brought her to the vet, had her groomed, adjusted her eating habits.  She was just happy to be with me.  I went back and forth between homes for some time, but when I left, no matter how long I was gone, when I came home, she was always the first to greet me.  As if she thought I would have been gone forever and all of a sudden gave her the best surprise of her life.  Lurs loved me back to sanity, and I am a better person because I had her in my life.

I have no idea what breed of dog she was, or how old she was when I began taking care of her.  All I knew is that it was the right thing to do.  So many people who knew her owner, and had an idea of her actual age.  They constantly tried to tell me how old she was, as if that would discourage me from caring for her and loving her.  I never understood why it mattered to people so much.  Love knows no age.  The point is to love unconditionally.  It is important that we learn to care for people and helpless creatures who need us.

The ability to care for those who need us is not a burden, it is a privilege.