It is National Dog Day!

It is National Dog Day according the to the Animal Miracle Foundation. This organization is dedicated to helping all animals and this day they try to bring greater awareness to people about domestic pets and animal suffering. As well they want to put an end to the overpopulation of unwanted pets through adoption, education and spay and neuter programs. Last year on this day they claim to have helped save 12,056 dogs and this year they are aiming for 15, 000. I sure hope they get there as I know all too sadly that there are so many abused and abandoned animals in our country. It brings tears to my eyes when I see how we treat these intelligent, loyal and loving creatures.
I got Lucy because she had been stuck in a small pen with her siblings for over six weeks in a pet store where they let all the kids maul them all day long. When I got her she was undernourished because they only fed them once a day and she had been habituated to messing in her kennel because that was the only place she had. She had eye infections and her coat was dirty and flea riddled. She was a frightened nervous little thing. She clung to my leg for days and it took us two years to convince her that she did not need to be afraid of kids anymore. Now, four years later, when I see her so confident and people walk up to me and say what a happy dog she is it puts a smile on my face and I know that all the work and walking and cleaning was worth the effort.

This was Lucy when we first brought her home. I can hardly believe how emaciated she was and frightened she always looked.

Here is Lucy today doing what she loves best- swimming and fishing. Her next passions are catching a ball or Frisbee and sleeping on my bed!

I hope that this organization has great success this year and I hope that more people realize how horrible animal abuse is and that the laws need to be stronger and penalties greater for these offenses.