Just Say Yes! Rescue one or two…

/ Dora Hiers

Just say yes to rescue!

So, you guys probably remember we lost our beloved Bruiser around Halloween last year.

We brought him home when he was a 3-month-old pup, and he lived to the age of thirteen. That crazy rascal brought us so much joy! I was beyond devastated with his passing and vowed that we would never get another dog. How could I possibly love and lose another best friend? It hurt heart-deep.

“Once you have had a wonderful dog, a life without one, is a life diminished.” —Dean Koontz

Fast forward a few months. Months filled with…quiet. Oh my goodness, y’all, so much quiet. You see, I’m a writer and I sit over my laptop pretty much all day every day. I need quiet to write, but that eerie silence drove me crazy. Didn’t take long for me to realize I missed the companionship of a dog. Missed the click of nails across the hardwood, following me around the house. Missed the snoring behind my desk, the sweet face that pleaded to go for a ride or for a walk at the park. Took me a lot longer to confess that to hubby. lol.

Before I worked up the courage to tell him I wanted another dog, I ventured to an animal shelter.

Maybe just seeing a bunch of them would stuff that desire for a dog right back into the past. Ha! Big mistake, in the kindest, most truthful way. All those sweet dogs sitting pretty at the front of their kennel or jumping, begging to be chosen. Most barked or rubbed against the fencing, hoping for a human touch. Oh, that I could take them all home! (Well, most of them 🙂 ) The dog in the next to the last kennel caught my attention. He barely lifted his head from the bed. Enough to send me a message with those sad brown eyes. I’m not a puppy. I’m old and chubby. You’re not going to pick me, so just do us both a favor and walk on by. 

Yeah. The receptionist had specifically mentioned Quaszar, an eight-year-old black lab who was surrendered with his mama, both severely overweight and raised on table scraps, because the owners couldn’t take care of them anymore. And I recall my breath hitching at the eight years old part. A senior dog? Definitely not! I’d get all attached and then he’d die!

A few weeks later my heart finally spilled over to hubby.

He was totally on board, but he wanted another puppy. I agonized for weeks about whether to get another Golden Retriever. We knew and loved the breed, but would I always compare the puppy to Bruiser? The exorbitant prices for a golden puppy (over $1,000!) took that off the table for us, and eventually we found a tan and white mixed Lab puppy to rescue. Born on New Year’s Eve, Bolder would be ready to come home in a month. We were so excited to meet him! What do you think? Isn’t he a cutie?

Rescue Lab Puppy Fiction Faith & Foodies Ernie & Dora Hiers

Bolder, our Lab puppy (credit for image unknown)

But that sad image of Quaszar wouldn’t let go of me.

Didn’t he deserve a chance to live out his life in a forever home? He’d been in the shelter since November. What if no one adopted him? Would he live the rest of his life there? Somehow I convinced hubby just to go meet him. As you can tell from the picture, the handsome dude must’ve left a lasting imprint on hubby’s heart too. lol.

Lab rescue Fiction Faith & Foodies Ernie & Dora Hiers

Quaszar, our handsome boy. So happy to go home!

Looks like we’ll be a two-dog family for a while. No more quiet house, and I’m okay with that. Oh, and we shortened his name to Que. Of course. ❤

Could you say no to that face?

15 thoughts on “Just Say Yes! Rescue one or two…”

  1. They both are beautiful, Tori! It’s hard to say no to dogs! I have three!
    We purchased two, and one mixed Lab puppy who happened upon our house and decided to stay! Of course, we love them all!
    I’m sure your house is filled with live and joy! Enjoy your babies!

    Liked by 2 people

    • It is soooo hard, Gail! I don’t have it in me. So sweet that your mixed lab puppy chose YOU and your family to make his furever home. ❤ Thank you, and happy Wednesday, sweet friend.

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  2. There’s not a LOVE button or I would have clicked it! Crying happy tears because two sweet dogs have been given a second chance and I know they are going to be (and already are) spoiled rotten. We own two pound puppies, too, and they are the best dogs! I believe the shelter experience gives animals a new outlook on life.

    Thanks for sharing your story!

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    • That’s our experience, too, Maria. The shelter we adopted from really worked with their animals, training them for adjustments to their new home. Other than separation anxiety, Que has awesome manners and is so gentle and patient. Happy Wednesday, Maria, and enjoy your sweet babies! 😍

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  4. Oh, Dora…I LOVED this story! I showed it to Derek and he got teary eyed too. I’m so happy you don’t have to listen to the eerie silence any longer. Your photo of Bolder is just as cute as that photo you shared of yourself on you way into the gym that day. “Going in!” LOL! How did you get B to stick out his tongue? So cute! And the photo of you and Ernie with Que, needs to go into a special frame. Thanks for brightening a very long and dreary day, my friend. This was priceless! ❤

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    • I can’t take credit for this photo, Jill. It was posted on the rescue’s website. Done by a professional, I’m sure, who graciously donated their services. I’m so sorry your day was dreary and long, sweet friend. Hope you can relax this evening!

      Liked by 1 person

  6. Oh my gosh, NO! I could not say no to that face! I’m surprised you left him in there that long. But I understand why you did it. I’m not judging you. I would have wanted him in my car that day…but also would have had to go get my hubby, too. I’m glad you got him. This was a wonderful story! Definitely tugs a person’s heart strings. 💜

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    • Oh my goodness, I would never make a life-altering decision like that without hubby being on board. Phew, so glad he loved Que as much as me, or it would’ve broke my heart. Happy Thursday, sweet friend! 💟

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  7. Thank you so very much for taking Que on. I volunteer at an animal shelter and the older animals break my heart. Just break it. And black and old means two strikes against him. Both black dogs and black cats have a harder time finding homes than other animals.

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    • I had read that very same thing, Luanne, and I can relate to how you must feel. When I looked into Que’s eyes, hopelessness stared back. Not now! We’re so happy we brought him home! Thank you so very much for volunteering at an animal shelter! It’s because of people like you willing to sacrifice your time and love on these animals that they get a second chance at life. Thank you!! ❤

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      • I do nothing compared with what some of these rescuers do. They absolutely amaze me with their dedication and bravery. I keep thinking I’m going to tackle this in a book, but I kind of move between poetry, mystery, and children’s lit in my thinking on the subject!

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