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To Hopeful Future Dog Owners

My Rescue Girl

By Hollie MayPublished 6 years ago 3 min read
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Say 'Hello' to Liberty, my 7-year-old Ale stone Bulldog who joined my family this year on New Year’s Day. She is a rescue Gal.

Now when people are thinking of having a new dog, the majority of minds go instantly to puppies- just so they can renact the beginning of 'Marley and Me'. And yes, that is adorable and special -and let's be honest, a lot of people’s dreams. But, I bid you, please investigate adoption beforehand.

Dogs truly are 'man’s best friend' and it absolutely breaks my heart thinking of all the animals that are cooped up in a rescue shelter, just waiting. If you're thinking of getting a new doggie friend then please check out your nearest RSPCA or Dogs Trust, there could be your new pal just sat waiting for you to come along.

I do understand that rescue dogs can sometimes be a challenge and require more effort and patience, but the reward of seeing a sad looking dog transformed into a little creature who never stops wagging their tail, really is worth it.

When I went to the RSPCA with my family, we weren’t even looking to buy, we just went as a possibility for the new year. But, that quickly changed.

When I first saw Liberty, she was sat curled in her basket barking at everyone and everything that came near her cage. She looked so grumpy, and to this day I still call her 'Grumpy face' (can't let her forget now, can we?). My Dad was actually the one who suggested to see her outside, just us and away from all the rest of the barking dogs. Once we got her to ourselves, she was completely different! She greeted us with licks and sniffs and when we bent down to see her, basically tackled us with love and fuss. She was our dog from the moment we saw her, so we had to get her - and we did!

Now the thing with rescues is that people automatically assume that they're going to have a really nasty or timid nature -that they've been ill-treated. And whilst that is the case with a few of the dogs, many are in due to their owners being unable to look after them anymore. Liberty had ended up at the RSPCA as her owner had to go to hospital as they were very ill, and nobody in their family could look after her. This owner had bought Liberty from a litter when she was only a pup, they'd had her for 7 years, so all of her life. It's such a sad case that a dog, who has known love all its life, has to end up in a shelter due to a cause that's out of anyone’s hands.

I am so grateful for my beautiful dog and the character she has. She is the most stubborn girl you have ever met and has the biggest personality, she's cheeky and playful, but also loving and caring. After my experience with her, I will always look in shelters when looking for a new dog. She has shown me how loving a dog can be but also, how grateful. When we first got her, every morning she would change around our house and jump up us all with so much energy and happiness -we called it her ‘realisation’, as it was just like she’d woken up and had realised she was still with us and not in the shelter.

To any hopeful new dog owners, please go and check out a shelter as your dream dog could be hiding away there. I mean, look at the photo's I've attached -I found my dream girl, and I'm sure you could find yours. -and to you puppy maniacs, don’t worry, they have youngsters there too. So NO EXCUSES!

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About the Creator

Hollie May

19 year old Drama student from the UK. Writing has always been a way of escapism for me, and I hope through this platform I can find my true voice.

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