We are looking to get a new small dog. Like a small poodle or chicuhua. Faith is 6 yrs old and her little Fluffy a male poodle was stolen last year and haven't been able to find him or a good dog in price range for her. If you know of someone that is giving a small dog away we will be more than happy to take him and add it to our family. We are a single family. Please let me know asap.
Thanks,

Lisa, great and very timely article! One more point I'd like to add is that if the person/family is bound and determined to get a pet for the holidays, the pet should be brought into the home either BEFORE the actual holiday or AFTER. With all the hustle and bustle of unwrapping presents, people coming and going, the animal will feel lost and confused. Not to mention the fact that the animal could get out of the house unnoticed if there are a lot of visitors throughout the day or evening. That is not a good environment for the first real introduction! When an animal is brought in to the house for the first time, the animal should be the main focus and the surroundings should be as calm as possible. If someone is going to have an animal companion, they need to learn how to be considerate of the animal just as they would if they were bringing a newborn child home for the first time.

I would like to say the purebred rescue is a good idea, but sometimes the mixed mutt is smart and can make a wonderful addition to your family too.
Baby was an older dog when she came here. She was brought to us by a friend that just brought her and put her in our fence and said she needs a home and you have Patches (Our other Dalmatian) and I know you can give her a good home. She was hurt, she was limping and she looked terrible with mange on her head, it was plain to see she was a full breed Dalmatian. She had been found with a old, tight collar on that her skin had grown around it, and she didn't have a voice, she sounded to be crying like a baby, so that is how she got her name, and after just a few weeks she had a hearty bark. I took her to the Vet, he said she was old, he wasn't sure how old. This older homeless dog turned out to be the smartest dog we ever had here. She could open the gate on the fence with her nose. She was a ball dog and even after leg surgery all she thought of doing was playing ball. I loved her so very much her whole life. My point being that sometimes the ugly ones turn into beautiful ones, she was so ugly when she came here, and sometimes the older ones work out to be the best dog ever. When I would mow she would take her ball and run along beside me, and she would run ahead and drop her ball so I would have to stop the lawn mower and move her ball and many times the working turned into playing and though at the time I thought this was a bit of trouble, I can't mow today without tears in my eyes missing my Baby Dog.
When we take on an animal here it's thought out and talked over with the whole family and when I take in an animal I am very hard headed in my thinking that this animal is here to stay and if it has characteristics upsetting us than we work on these problems.
Black Jack was another good dog that lived here that we had for years. He stood on a corner for days, I stopped and fed him, but I didn't want to bring him home. I was sure he would get hit, but he just stood there every time I went by, I realized this dog was dumped there and he was waiting for someone he loved to come back and get him, but they did not come. I told my husband about him, our daughter wasn't born yet (I was expecting her soon), and we decided to save Black Jack, so he came here and he really grew up with her, he was called Black Jack The Bicycle Dog, because he would follow the whole family as we would ride bicycles and just run beside us. You did not see our daughter outside without this old black dog running beside her as if he was guarding her. When Black Jack was dying I asked the Vet as he lay on the table what can we do, how can we save him, but the Vet said he's an old dog now, he is dying of old age. I think back now and I feel good that Black Jack lived all of those years here and died at an old age, because he had a full and happy life. He is in our memories forever, and my daughter loved him as much as we did, it was a very lucky thing for her to have him in her life, this is why I always feel black dogs and cats that find you are very lucky for you. He was one of these mixed up looking black dogs, you know the kind you see everywhere, but he was Black Jack The Bicycle Dog to us and one of my daughters best childhood friends. I know I shouldn't have wrote so much, but every time I think of Baby or Black Jack I can't stop once I get started on them. They were both a very special part of our family. We have a mixed breed black dog here today, she is nine years old now and she is Miss Bear, another dumped dog.
One more thing, Boo Boo kitty was sick and was going outside of his litter box, but I thought he was just a male and doing this and I was upset. I took him in to the Vet and he had a Urinary Track Infection, he was just sick and he never goes outside of his box now. Don't give up on them and if they are acting up and you need to take them in to see the Vet, they are probably just sick and trying to let you know this the only way they can.
I just wanted to write in on this one and let you know that ugly can turn beautiful with love and compassion and an old one might fit into your home better than a young one, so don't miss out just because you want a puppy or kitten. The best thing that friend ever did for me was bring that older, hurt dog with the mange and leave her in my fence.

kudos to the above remarks about anyone thinking of getting a new pet whether before, during or after the holidays! there IS much to be considered beforehand and Lord knows our city and county shelters are overflowing with unwanted animals already.

i work at Molly's Mutt House on W.23rd, in the heights, and we have quite a few foster dogs that are available for adoption to loving forever homes and would encourage anyone considering a new addition to the family to think seriously about adopting a rescue animal first... no other loving heart will be as grateful! if anyone is interested in the dogs available for adoption at our facility feel free to visit our website at http://www.mutthouse.com and check out the *adoption* tab.

there is an application that prospective families must complete before a home visit is made and an interview with your current veterinarian is conducted. upon completion and approval of the application, there will be a reasonable adoption fee required before taking a dog home with you.

pets ARE a lifetime commitment and one that should be decided upon carefully and responsibly to insure the happiness and well-being of all concerned! Molly's Mutt House wishes ALL of you a wonderful Holiday Season and reminds everyone to be responsible pet owners and remember to spay and neuter your pets!

This is a great topic to do a story on! Surprise pets are NOT good! No one should expect a child to take care of an animal either. Christmas pets=trouble.