Adopt-a-Less-Adoptable Pet Week

If not for our friends we wouldn't know anything these days. First Twinkie tells us about National Dog Week and now Mayzie tells us it's also Adopt-a-Less-Adoptable Pet Week. I wasn't sure that I could really address that issue. I'm a purebred and a member of a breed that was the rarest in the whole world for a bit. I mean, you can't get any more adoptable than that, can you? Well, not so fast, according to some folks. My personal hero, Sean Casey, Animal Rescuer told my Moms that Shar Pei were not quick to be adopted. It seems we have a reputation. "Bad rap" is what Mr. Casey said. Also, it's been rather rudely pointed out that I was well into middle age at the time of my adoption. Not a senior, though. I just want that on the record. I did not yet have my AARP (Association for the Advancement of Retired Pets) card at that point. I don't think it helps with Pei adoption that some rescue agencies and shelters recommend their Peis only to experienced Pei owners. All well and good, but how does one become an experienced Pei owner to begin with if only experienced owners should have us?

Franklin - Cute at times, demonic at times, goofy all the time.

When the Moms got Franklin there was much happiness in the shelter that he was going to be adopted by a family that included no children and a Pei. The fact is that he came from a family with children and his previous owner marked down on his surrender forms that he's good with kids, but no kids for him because he's a Pei. No matter. He's got me, Lola, and that's enough to make him happy. Oh, and the humans, too, but mostly me. But he was kind of lucky that just the right family came along for him. Between the pretty much not so necessary "no kids" caveat and his eyes he might not have been first choice for just everyone. We're still trying to get a photo that really shows what a funny looking guy he is. This one doesn't capture the demonic look, but it does give you something of an idea of the state his eyes are in, after drastic entropion surgery. He can see, but not all that well. Mostly you wouldn't notice, but it really shows when he's trying to chase a ball, which he loves to do. What he can't do is follow where it's going, even if it's a straight line. He ran right over the one that Daddy threw the other day and had no idea. It's OK, though. We doggies don't really absolutely need to see all that well or even at all if we have someone to take good care of us.

Differently abled animals can make the best pets in the world. The aforementioned Twinkie has only three good legs. Gentle Ben, another blog furiend is doing just fine on three legs and some dogs make do quite well with fewer than that. Adoptapet.com's blog has an post up titled Blind Dogs, Deaf Dogs, Wonderful Dogs!. and the article referenced mentions that some people who have adopted blind or deaf dogs can't imagine having any other sort of pet. I'd bet the same goes for kitties, too.  Now you all know all this already and I do, too, but we should probably do what we can to get the word out to those who think that Pitties or Peis are mean dogs or that dogs or kitties who lack a limb or so, or vision or hearing can't be happy pets.

Everyone have a truly great National Dog Week, too. Extra treats! Extra cheese!