Monday, February 4, 2008

New Family Member


"Blonde & Beautiful"
ACEO Original Colored Pencil Drawing
2.5 x 3.5"
SOLD

This is a drawing of our newest family member, Mandy, a 5-year-old (or close to it) yellow labrador retriever who we "found" at the pound, the same place we "found" Buddy, our chocolate lab. She is a gem: loving, kind, gentle, plays well with other (i.e., Buddy), obeys commands and is in all ways a complete lady. Mandy had been at the shelter since August, where she was taken after being snagged as a runaway. I can't help but feel she was just waiting for us to find her.

My husband, who had told me for years that one dog was enough, just recently decided the two was okay. What changed his mind? Well, he'd read an article in the paper about how overcrowded animal shelters have become due to the economy and particularly the fact that people are losing their homes due to eviction and foreclosure. The shelter calls them "Foreclosure Dogs".

My dogs (yeah, two!) are just that, my dogs, they are not my kids. They are nonetheless, loved and well cared for. I have a huge soft spot for lost or rejected dogs and always let people know that my big beautiful, well-bahaved pets are from the shelter. There are some wonderful companions there just waiting for someone to find them. Just walk through an animal shelter once and see if you don't fall in love with at least one of them; or many, many more.
Each time I have been there, I cry, then realize that it probably wouldn't be a good idea to back my small VW Bug up to the back door and fill it with as many dogs as it would hold....
But these two love riding in my Bug and fit very, very well.


Buddy & Mandy

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Congratulations of the adoption of your little lady! She is beautiful! I am looking forward to seeing more of her in your drawings! I am happy to hear that you rescued her from the shelter. The shelter in Taos, New Mexico has so many dogs waiting to find a loving home. In fact I visited the Taos shelter yesterday and witnessed what appeared to be part Great Pyrenees puppy...... beautiful puppy she was..... being adopted by a potentially loving family. Yellow labs are dear to my heart as we lost our 11 1/2 year old Taylor girl last April to a serious disease and my heart still aches. I hope your new doggie gives you many years of unconditional love, companionship, and laughter as the two dogs romp and play. Our 8+ year old chocolate lab, Kodiak, is a joy! So endearing! Good luck, Rhonda!

Rhonda Bartoe Tucker said...

So you also had a chocolate and vanilla flavor! Sorry about your loss of Taylor; I understand, and dread, your heartache. But, as you know, it is far better to have loved and lost them than not to have loved them at all. They fill up lots of empty space: physical and emotional. Give Kodiak a big "bear hug" from me.

Nichole said...

Thanks mom... i miss home a lot.. and really just want to come home for a weekend and relax but i only have like 3 weeks left till spring break... so i can do it!

Serena Lewis said...

Congratulations on the new family addition, Rhonda. Mandy is beautiful!!! I think it's wonderful that you adopted her from the animal shelter.