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Boonie Tails

By Grace Keilbach

A very Boonie Christmas

We hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season as much as we are and that all your last minute gift shopping is going as smoothly as pawsible. I am currently on a cross country road trip with my husband and three Boonies from D.C. to Colorado so that the dogs don’t miss out on any holiday magic. This will be our first Christmas together as a family as last year the Boonies were still in transit from Saipan. We have assured them that this year, Santa Paws knows where to find them.

The following article was sent out last year around this time but it is too important and heart-warming not to share again. We hope that it still brings a smile to your face like it does ours.

As the Grinch once said: No one should be alone on Christmas!

It should come as no surprise that the Grinch, an unwanted, ostracized, character who spends his life in exile due to his different appearance, has a rescue dog. In the movie, the Grinch start out as quite the Christmas villain but as time progresses, we learn he is just in search of the love and acceptance he never got to experience, much like so many rescue animals who have found themselves in the same discarded and ignored position. This holiday season, we encourage you to open up your hearts and homes to the world of rescue, just like the Grinch did.

Although our Christmas wish is for every human and animal in need to experience the joys of rescue, we are not promoting making rash, uneducated decisions this holiday season and bringing a new pet into your home that you are not ready to handle for the rest of their life. Pets are a very popular gift and much like other presents that lose their charm as time goes on, they often find themselves surrendered to a shelter as those who received them lose interest. In fact, shelters everywhere see a significant increase in animal surrenders after the holidays. One of the best gifts you can receive is the love that animals have to give. We understand the commitment of adopting an animal, however, we promise its so worth it! If you’re considering saving a life and adopting this holiday season, here are some things to think about and words of encouragement!

We know you’re busy…

We are by no means promoting anyone being absent parents, but something we hear too often is that people don’t have the time to adopt. Although waiting for some time off from work (cough cough like this December) is ideal for getting to hang out with your new best friend, it really isn’t necessary. Did you know that dogs sleep twelve to fourteen hours a day? If you’re worried about a busy schedule, we promise that at any shelter near you, there will be a dog waiting that fits your life style! We recommend fostering to ensure that your needs and theirs can be met by the both of you before adopting.

Making space

Another thing to consider that always seems to be a hangup for many potential adopters is space (or lack there of). Many people shy away from adopting due to living in an apartment or somewhere without a yard. Although you will be getting more steps in having to take the dog out (which is good for everyone involved, who doesn’t need more fresh air), a nice house with a white picket fence is not what gives your animal a good quality of life. Anywhere you welcome an animal home to is more space than they had at the shelter. Again, take your time to look into dogs/cats that will match your lifestyle!

Behavioral concerns

Many people are deterred from adoption because they are concerned about not being able to handle a “problem” animal when plot twist, any dog you buy as a puppy and don’t train is still going to be a problem. At the end of the day, no dog is perfect and you will have to work with them to show them the ropes of their new life. When adopting, make sure you are asking specific questions such as how does this dog do with other dogs, how do they do with kids, how do they do with strangers, do they have food aggression, etc. Although many shelter (and bought dogs alike) have some sort of behavioral issues, many of them don’t. Out of the 3.1 million dogs that enter shelter facilities in the U.S., there are so many phenomenal ones that deserve a second chance at life.

It’s always a beautiful day to save lives

As McDreamy from ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ once said, “its a beautiful day to save lives”. Rescuing and owning animals has its ups and downs, but saving a life and watching your rescue learn to love and live is an unimaginably beautiful experience. This holiday season, or in any season of life, make a difference, save a life, and adopt. More than one life will be changed.

Click the link in this ad to passively donate to Boonie Babies! We receive money for every person that opens the link. Every click counts!

Myth: Pet insurance doesn’t cover everything

Many pet owners worry that insurance won’t cover everything, especially routine care or pre-existing conditions. While that’s true in many cases, most insurers now offer wellness add-ons for preventive care like vaccines, dental cleanings, and check-ups, giving you more complete coverage. View Money’s pet insurance list to find plans for as low as $10 a month.

Protect your pet

Boonie of the Week: Meet Max (x6)!

Something we have noticed and often complain about is the lack of representation of rescue animals in movies and shows. When writing this article, we learned that not only one rescue dog, but a total of six rescue dogs were used in the filming of The Grinch! Kelly, Chip, Topsy, Stella, Zelda, and Bo were all rescued from shelters and trained to perform specific tricks throughout the film. Animal trainer Roger Schumacher spent 15 weeks practicing with the dogs ahead of filming to perfect their stunts and get them acclimated to the set environment.This gave him time to assess which dogs were best suited to each role, so the dogs were only asked to perform the actions they were willing to do.

When filming was complete, each “Max” was adopted by a cast or crew member giving the story a beautiful ending on screen and off. Look at all those good boys and girls who helped the Grinch steal Christmas!

Share the holiday cheer this year with Boonie Babies

Make a donation of $10 or more via PayPal the month of December and receive a special thank you, just make sure to leave your address in the “note” so we can send it to you! Make a difference and help us save the Boonies!

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