Time for change: A rescue mutt is the way to go (Updated)
I am a big fan of rescued dogs and have been adopting strays my whole life. There is nothing better than a dog in your home and nothing better than giving a homeless dog a home. Who cares about breed or pedigree. The future President is the ultimate American mixed breed himself. It is time to break from tradition and have a mutt as the first dog.
The following photos are from Kinky Friedman's Utopia Rescue Ranch which over the past ten years has rescued over a thousand dogs from certain death and placed them in forever homes. Perhaps the Obamas would consider giving Willie Nelson a chance?
Or maybe Pearl?
There is the super intelligent Mr. Ziffle who has a trampoline in his enclosure:
Or the Obamas could be completely out of the box and go with the big change that is Lucy Ricardo?
If it must be a puppy, the pounds and shelters of the United States are full of puppies who would be great companions for the Obamas and make the White House lively and fun.
The above photo is of Maggie who was also a Kinky Friedman rescue, but I think she has already found a home.
If you live in Texas and are looking for a good dog, think about a trip to Utopia Rescue. They are open to the public on Saturdays and are located about six miles north of Medina, Tx which coincidentally has a cafe that serves some of the best apple pie and coffee in the Hill Country.
Money may buy you a fine dog, but only love can make him wag his tail.
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Dogs are cowboys; cats are Indians. Like the yin and yang of our souls, they fight across the dusty plains of our childhood, their only fault, that they don't live long enough.
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I have always felt that what we do when a stray crosses our path - how we react to the hungry, homeless stranger - is indubitably a measure of our own humanity
( All quotes from Cowboy Logic, The Wit and Widom of Kinky Friedman and some of his friends)
Update: If you cannot adopt a Texas dog, but want to support Utopia there are many ways to do it. The shelter costs over five thousand dollars a month to keep up and Kinky is always having bonefit concerts to keep the dogs and other animals in kibble.
At his website, www.kinkyfriedman.com, you will find the 2009 Utopia calender, excellent salsa, the Utopian Cigar, a book written by Kinky's friend Cousin Nancy who lives on site and keeps the shelter going, and many other items of interest that will be "financial pleasures" (as Kinky likes to say) for the animals who live at Utopia. Or you can always just send them a couple bucks.
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Comments
rated.
Now to your post. I have only had stray, shelter dogs my entire life. There is nothing like one when you save them. They know it, they never forget it and they are a friend till the end...
Kudos and rated for its importance.
Greg
Think of how much this will benefit the strays all over the country!
Look at those wise saddened but hopeful eyes...
Bless you cause I know you volunteer and help out your shelter!
rated and just loved the quotes!!! How about including a link where we could access the gift shop and buy one?
Utopia is too far for me to volunteer, but I do send money and put only Kinky's salsa on my breakfast tacos the profits support the rescue ranch.
I will put the link in the post, but here it is as well:
www.kinkyfriedman.com
I have compassion for all those unwanted and Utopia is a no kill for life shelter committed to keeping all their animals healthy and happy while at the same time searching for forever homes.
I hope the Obama family opts for a shelter puppy.
This will be very good for dog shelters and I am very pleased with this possible change in White House tradition.
Even the little guy in my avatar shares his digs with his idol, Buddy, who is an 8 year-old 90 lb Labrador from one of the local shelters.
Boris thinks that Buddy is the bee's knee's and so do I.
rated
Your video brought back memories of a basenji my parents got right after we returned to the US from Iceland. His name was Captain and I had actually forgotten him today while I thought back about all the dogs in my life. We had relatives who bred basenjis and Captain was a hell of a dog. He was actually my first dog ever, but he was more my mother's dog than mine which is probably why he slipped my mind. The mutts I brought home were the ones I thought of today. Thank you for thinking of basenjis. Captain was a very good dog and I now can't believe I forgot about him.
I rather liked Lucy Ricardo. Although I really think they should get a pair of bearded dragons. One for each daughter. First-Reptile pets.
John, thank you for giving your and Boris' votes of confidence to mutts.
As we travel and at some times can’t take the dog we keep her in “Dog Resort”. This is a real dog hotel. When I leave off she trot right over to the owners and checks out her grounds knowing she is in for a week or so of pure doggy heaven. She is the most popular dog they take in.
I didn’t want a dog again as this place has buried on it 6 dogs over the last 30+ years. At one time it had 4 horses, 2 dogs 13 cats, 29 chickens and 2 pigs that were named Pork Chop and Bacon. Unfortunate my daughters renamed them a different more acceptable name to them and began playing with them. Yes pigs are quite friendly and smarter than dogs, but as this was a ranch and they were the food I was looking to put in the freezer and no the table, I found I was in a losing position. The first pork chops were put on the table and my daughters looked at them and lost their appetite.
The cats were strays. At that time I built this house we were the only ones on 500 acres and so often people would dump their cats and we would end up with them. Dogs were a different matter as they often ended in dog packs in this rural area.
Folkmuse, there used to be a lot of dog dumping near where I grew up as well. There was also the reverse, dog snatching. I had one or two particularly handsome strays who had come to stay disappear. My parents always thought someone had seen them in the yard and taken them which was not an uncommon things in the country.
Pigs are pretty smart and I felt sorry for the three at Utopia as they will probably be there for life. I am just not set up for pet pigs at this point in my life.
We are both brilliant. And smart and attractive, I'm sure.
odetteroulette, I have my moments but have a way to go. Thanks for all the undeserved compliments.
Ms. Puta, so good to hear from you. I've been envying your time across the pond. I have the travel bug good this time of year, but have to stick to Texas for a while. I also have a soft spot for hungry cats.