I stopped by the Oakland Pet Adoption Center earlier this week — always a heart breaking venture.Of course, I went straight for the big dog cages to check out who was available. A giant black dog listed as a stray picked up in Wixom stood quietly and calmly behind the bars. He was older, no doubt, and black, and large — that's three strikes against him. Three things most people don't want in an adoptable dog. As he smiled and gently wagged his tail when I got closer to his cage, I just felt so sad. Here was this stray, this even-keeled, friendly old man of a dog and what are the chances he might actually get adopted? Pretty slim. I wanted to cry. I've been thinking about him ever since.
And then there were the two hound dogs — I bet they'll go quick. Young, energetic, beautifully colored dogs. I keep thinking about them too.
There were a couple pit mixes and a Rottweiler. Will anyone adopt these guys? I don't know, and I guess that's what haunts me at night.
We can't adopt a dog right now. Sensi has made it clear that while he enjoys having dog friends, he doesn't want a live-in dog friend. He doesn't want to share us and now, especially with him being in his golden years, I don't want to make his life miserable.
But Brent and I have both decided that when the day comes that we say our final goodbye to Sensi, we'll head to the shelters to pick out a large and friendly dog. That's the only criteria. Large and friendly.
And so, I just can't get that old black dog out of my head. Please, somebody, adopt these dogs.
Here's video of all the big dogs that were at the Oakland Pet Adoption Center on Wednesday, Sept. 22. The center is located at 1700 Brown Road in Auburn Hills. Call 248-391-4101.
If you do adopt one of these dogs, let me know!
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