The gift that keeps on giving

With Christmas just around the corner and some shopping still to be done, I wanted to share what I think is the best gift ever - the gift of life to a rescued animal.

To say that the fiance and I adore our dog would be a gigantic understatement.  This little doggie is the love of our lives.  His name is Teddy, and we got him from a rescue shelter.

We don't know much of Teddy's story except this sad fact - he was dropped off at the county shelter by his apparent owners.  I'd like to think they found themselves in dire straits (this would have been at the height of the housing fiasco) and didn't know that the shelter where they left him would have been forced the euthanize him.  I'd like to think they loved him dearly but didn't know what else to do.  Surely though, they did know how scared this little guy can get when he's without his family.  It breaks my heart to think about the 5 days he spent there.  Luckily for us, a local shelter, the Lange Foundation, swooped in and rescued him.  Teddy waited 6 whole months at Lange for us.  If only we'd known him, we would've scooped him up the instant he arrived.

This little love is the light of our lives.  On our separate ways home in the evening, we often compare notes as to who is closer to home because the first one home gets the good kisses from Teddy (though, truthfully, he gives the good kisses to both of us whenever we arrive home, no matter the arrival order).  We've been known to arrive home at the same time and race each other into the house to see this sweet face.

This sweet boy is fiercely loyal and protective of us both.  He's 18 pounds of guard dog and pure joy rolled into one.  Most evenings, you can find us playing hide and seek with him - which by the way was his idea.  He loves to "hide" his bone and then growls at us until one of us says "Where's Teddy's bone?" and acts like we're looking for it.  He'll race to wherever he's hidden it and then start over.  On our morning walks, once he's finished with the business, he'll wait for us to notice that he wants to race.  He always cheats by taking off on the count of 2, and it is the most adorable thing I've ever witnessed.

He loves chicken and treats.  Loves his toys and to play chase around the house.  He's a total bed hog and his comfort is paramount to ours, and we wouldn't have it any other way.  Like clockwork, this little love is ready to snuggle with me at 9:30 every evening, and when I head to bed he's close behind. 

Suffice it to say, we are eternally grateful to the Lange Foundation - not only for our Teddy, but for the good work they do for all animals in need.  So, if you're looking for a pet and feel you can give it a forever home, please do consider a rescue pet.  In return, they will be your forever loves.  If you'd like to support the work these good people do, just visit their webpage for more info.

**this is not a sponsored post - this is just a story of the little doggie who changed my life and the people who made it possible.

photos:  Something Nice to Say