We’ve been through this before…. her customers showing up with puppies they can’t (or don’t want to) keep any longer. Our combined efforts have found homes for a schnauzer, a bishon friese, and a maltese, just to name a few. Those were all purebred dogs, though, and with no obvious health issues. But this little guy? Wow, what to do?

Because I am, and have always been, an animal advocate and rescuer, the first thing I said to my daughter was “Please, whatever you do, DO NOT let him take that puppy to the local animal shelter!”  The reasons are obvious. Far too many “adoptable” dogs already occupy the local shelters, and unfortunately, even many of them never find their way out except in the very sad solution of euthanasia (cough, cough, sputter, sputter!). There would be no question about this particular puppy’s fate if turned in to a regular animal shelter.

I got on the phone and began calling friends, and the responses I got were quite interesting. Most of them said “Oh, how said. Perhaps the kindest thing to do would be to put the poor thing to sleep!” Then I spoke to my dear friend, Diane, who founded PAALS (People And Animals Living Synergistically), a “no-kill” animal sanctuary located on a gorgeous 160 acre ranch in Colorado. Her response, unsurprisingly, was quite different. Even though her sanctuary is struggling through these difficult economic times with an influx of animals and a decrease in donations, like so many across the country, she immediately, without hesitation, said  enthusiastically, “Let’s find some way to get him to me! We could make this puppy a star for all special needs animals, you know, like Faith, the famous dog born with no front legs! Call your local news/media outlets and suggest it as a story.” Amazing, the difference in attitude.

This morning I called my daughter to tell her the good news. Unfortunately, she has no contact information for the man who had the puppy and unless he shows up again, asking for help, we’re at a standstill for this little guy. In the meantime, I’ll keep my fingers, toes and eyeballs crossed he does show up with puppy in hand.

I can do one more thing…..appeal to you to make a donation to Diane’s sanctuary (www.paalsforlife.com) or a no-kill animal organization in your area. They all need our help desperately right now. So many lives depend on it. PAALS has a new documentary, if you’d like to see the ranch, on youtube at this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-aflfi_gkFQ