The Watauga Humane Society is breaking ground on its new animal shelter complex this Saturday. As the pet-loving bunch we are, your Mountain Times staff is excited about this new opportunity to serve some of the county.s furrier residents. Here are some of the reasons why, and check out www.wataugahumanesociety.org while you.re at it.
It all started on Jan. 24, with a plan to go retrieve a dog
from the local Humane Society. We were participating in the Change a Pet’s Life Day. My husband and
I woke up early, excited for the day’s events, and headed on down to the local shelter in Boone.
We were the first to arrive to ensure the pick of the litter. They gave us instructions, and we
entered the concrete shelter that housed the dogs. I had picked one out from oogling him in the
paper earlier that week, and found my future puppy (Jax) in the third row on the left. They told me
he was a pit/lab mix, and was 12 weeks old. Part pitbull didn’t scare me after looking into that
sweet, innocent boy’s face, and I knew I had to have him. I hadn’t even gone into the cage yet,
just a feeling I had.
I dunked the soles of my shoes into the waterbucket at the entrance
of the kennel, and walked into the pen. Little did I know, Jax had a kennel-mate. A female, brindle
colored pit/blue-tick coonhound mix that was only 10 weeks old popped her head up from under the
blanket when we stepped in to the cage. There was that feeling again. I glanced at my
husband, he already knew what was coming, and gave me the nod. She is named Zoey. They are the
sweetest, most caring and devoted dogs a human could ever have. They have unconditional love, for
us and each other. If only humans could possess such characteristics. Thank you to our local Humane
Society for helping bring two great additions to our family – we realized we needed them as much
as they needed us. More ››
I’m a firm believer in adopting from the Humane
Society. One of my treasured pets was acquired from the Boone facility. This particular adoption
occurred years ago, and “Pumpkin” quickly became a part of the family. The adoption took place
when the Humane Society was struggling, both financially and physically, and I dropped by their
shelter on a whim, but came home with a treasure. At the time, a box of puppies had been dropped
off unattended at the shelter gate just days before I paid the shelter a visit. When I saw the
puppies, they were so very small, and the breed really couldn’t be determined. The staff was
concerned about adopting them out because of their age, but that didn’t deter me. I fell in love
with the balls of fur and picked out a female and took it home. I was living with my Mom at this
time, and the puppy was so small that I put it in my purse. I came into the house and to where mom
was sitting and just pulled the pup out of my purse. Mom screamed and jumped. She thought it was a
rat.
That was how Pumpkin was introduced to the family. The next day, or so, we took the
pup to the veterinarian, and he shared some disconcerting news. The puppy may not live because it
was so small and separated from its mom too soon. I was heartbroken, afraid that my newfound
friend might die. But with the help of mom, an eye-dropper and lots affection, the pup grew and
thrived. During this time, my mom was recovering from a cancer operation, and she and Pumpkin
bonded about as closely as I had with the pup. It was good therapy for mom to care for the pup,
and I believe it was her constant care that helped the pup survive. And she did. I had Pumpkin for
16 years. The little ball of fur (hence her name) was a great companion for both me and my Mother.
She’s passed, but since then there have been other family members added. Another was
Bailey, and she, too, lived a long and good life. So, the shelter served and is serving as a “love
connection,” where one can find that special friend whose friendship lasts for years.
More ››
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