My dog would be better off on the side of the road than at the pound...

FALSE!!!

I do not know if people here think that (although I know some do because I have actually had people tell me that) or if they do not want to take the responsibility of bringing them to the shelter. It's just a dog, after all. /sarcasm Yes, you might leave your dog on the side of the road and some kind person or rescue MAY see it and bring it home to keep or find a home for it. I may also win the lottery tomorrow, but the odds are against it.

The more likely scenario will be what I saw yesterday (and it's not the first time, nor the last, I am sure)...the dog that you leave on the side of the road will run out in front of a vehicle and suffer a horrific death that NO ONE AND NOTHING should suffer. That dog that you dropped on the side of the road, in hopes of it finding a better home (I have to believe in my heart that is the real misguided reason that you did it), runs out, either not being street smart or searching for food or whatever, and has his head crushed by a truck tire. Blessedly, immediate death. However, wouldn't the shelter and humane euthanasia be the better way to go? YES. It would!!!

How about this...you bring your dog to the shelter...they

*get adopted

*get humanely euthanised

Either way, they do not suffer. They do not suffer a horrific death. Yes, it sucks going in to the shelter (for you and them, if you have any heart), however, if you cannot/will not take the time to rehome them yourself or contact a rescue to see if they can take them, it is the appropriate and responsible thing to do.

If you leave them on the side of the road...they

*get hit by a car and suffer

*get hit by a car and have immediate death (sad that this is the preferred!)

*starve to death

*rarely get picked up and saved

I have a hard time seeing people bring animals to the pound, however, I would far rather see that than throwing them from the car. I really do think that people are misguided when they do this. They really do think it's the better option. It's not. Truly. Please either take your dog to the shelter/rescue/pound OR take the time to rehome them yourself. Your pet has done nothing wrong. They deserve better. Even if they HAVE done something wrong (chased livestock, bit someone, etc.) taking them to the pound is the responsible thing to do.

I am truly at a loss as to how to change things. I talk to my children about it often in some way. They know how I feel. They know what I expect of them. They have known about animals and responsibility for them since they could talk and understand. However, education is needed greatly. We need to get in these schools and have programs teaching children about animals, responsibility, choices and respect for ALL living things. That includes spay and neuter to control the population, what to do if you are truly no longer able to keep an animal (hey, I have been there! I understand that it happens. I had a dog that bit. We rehomed him through a breed specific rescue and he now lives in NY City! Go Westbrook!). Education, education, education!!! Animals are not trash, they are not throw away things. Don't have them if you do not plan to have a commitment for their best care and keeping, including what to do if you can no longer care for them! (And I don't mean because they no longer match the drapes or they shed (many dogs do!) or they have too much energy or they chew things or...or...or... Quite honestly, if you don't want to deal with it, get a fur real puppy. They don't chew or potty in the house AND if you get sick of them, you can take the batteries out! ;-)

You've gotta have Faith.

Annnnnd we had Faith AND her owner was found!!! I don't know if I should chalk it up to a small town or my big mouth or what, but I mentioned to someone about her last night, then they connected tonight when their friend said that their dog was missing...that it was this girl! Her name is NOT Faith, but in my mind it still is!

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Yesterday, on the way to bring my son to do a project for school (due today, it didn't get done. :-X ), we were on the interstate. Speed limit 70mph. I had just passed a truck around a corner. In the middle of the interstate, I saw her. A dog. Limping. Bewildered. In shock, it appeared.

My first instinct was to pull over. I slowed down and pulled off to the side of the road. A pick up truck stopped on the opposite side (in the middle of the interstate, where she had lingered to). ALL of the cars behind us stopped. Even the tractor trailer. Looking back now, that is absolutely amazing to me. However, somehow, I had faith that they would.

The owner of the other truck asked me if the dog was mine. I was said no, she isn't. He said he would take her, but he had other dogs in his truck and he wasn't sure what would happen. I told him that I would take her. This kind young main (mid 20's, if I had to guess), walked across the interstate, picked her up gently without hesitation and put her in the back of my Jeep. Surprising, but I had faith that he would. He was a kind soul. You could see it in his eyes and demeanor. Whoever you are out there, thank you for helping save this little girl.

The back of my jeep was full of fishing stuff since that was part of the project. I asked my son to come sit in the back with her and comfort her on the trip to...wherever we were going. At that time, I really didn't know WHERE we taking her or what we were doing with her. I just knew that she deserved better than what she had been given and we were not leaving her on the side of the road where she had been thrown out like a bag of trash. My son got in the back with her, trying to calm her down, comfort her and keep her happy. She was so sweet and gentle. I had faith that it would be okay. (We have had a negative reaction from a dog that we did not know before and injured dogs can be unpredictable, but we did not see any other option at the time.)

By the way, the kind soul above? He also followed us all of the way to the next exit, very closely. I had my flashers on and my son in the far back of the jeep, enclosed, but I was not at all comfortable with it and I think this young man knew it. Again, what a kind soul, deserving of many thanks.

My phone, about to die, made the call to the only contact that I could think of, one of the kindest souls that I know, Jeri, of a local rescue. I left a message, I probably sounded frantic. What do I do? I don't know who to take her to or what to do. I just knew that what was done to this girl was not humane and I was determined not to let her die that way. And Jeri called back with answers. I had faith that she would, even though I hated asking her to help take on this problem.

She made calls and we headed to a local vet with her. She was such a good girl the entire time. Obviously in pain, but she mostly just cuddled with my son in the back. When they brought the stretcher out for her, she was a little unsure, but really so good. She never made a peep, nipped, yelped or anything. My oldest (14) kept telling her what a good girl she is. We believe she is a boxer mix. She weighs approx. 45lbs.

She has a dislocated hip. Care will run around $800. The vet is letting payments be made, all money due by December 1. The rescue has started a ChipIn and I have Faith that we can raise the money. Please donate a dollar or two (or more, if you are so inclined) and share this link far and wide. I have faith that we can show this little girl that all humans are NOT bad.

Thank you for sharing, donating or even just reading and sending a positive thought for whom we call "Faith" in our home and hearts. (I do not know what the official rescue name for her is/will be. She is Faith to us until we hear otherwise.) It is very much appreciated!

If you prefer to donate directly to her, she is at Crestview in Marion, NC and is the I-40 dog under Rusty's Legacy rescue. If you think you might want to adopt her once she has healed, please contact Rusty's Legacy. Once this is all said and done, she is spayed and well, she will need a forever home.