By Valerie Cranston
for the Current-Argus
CARLSBAD — a shelter dog offers love and devotion in exchange for something as simple as a home.
October is Adopt a Shelter Dog Month and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals focuses on this month annually to pay tribute to all things canine in hopes of getting more homeless dogs into forever homes.
Local couple Greg and Kathy Wheeler are diehard shelter dog adopters. Whenever they feel it is time to up the canine count at home, they head to Noah’s Ark Animal Shelter. Enter their home and the evidence is obvious; the house belongs to the dogs with large pillow beds and a toy box spilling over with every imaginable toy.
Angela Cary, shelter manager, said the majority of animals that come into shelters do so through no fault of their own. They are there because people could no longer care for them physically, financially or emotionally, not because they are “bad.” looking for a specific breed? Nationwide statistics say that approximately 25 percent of shelter dogs are purebred, and that is true on a local level as well.
“Most people are shocked at how many purebred animals we get every month,” Cary said.
Adopting a shelter animal has the potential to save two lives - not only the life of the adopted animal, but possibly the life of another animal who will receive more time to find a home because necessary cage space was cleared by the adoption, she added.
Adopting a shelter animal is a great value. for a relatively small adoption fee ($50 for dogs and $40 for cats) you will receive necessary vaccinations, microchip and spay/neuter surgery. for a large female dog, these services would easily cost $250 or more if you paid for them on your own.
the Wheelers adopted Lightening, a 1 1/2-year-old Boston bull terrier/pug mix, and Pretzel, a 2 ½-year-old boxer/something mix, 16 months ago from Noah’s Ark. They just recently adopted Indie, 8, a Boston bull terrier.
when they adopted Indie, they also adopted Romeo, but he and Lightening had a personality conflict that couldn’t be resolved. the Wheelers tried everything they could think of before making the decision to return Romeo to the shelter. the happy ending was another loving family was waiting to adopt him after seeing him in the newspaper.
“We tried for five hours. he was such a neat dog, had a great personality, was housebroken and a good car dog,” Kathy Wheeler said, noting they are thankful he, too, got a great home.
Kathy Wheeler has taken the time to read about several breeds and identify what is best suited for them. no high energy dogs and no couch pooches. Medium size dogs that are moderately active yet mellow fit right in their lifestyle.
One important thing they look for is the dog that focuses on the human when approached. the dogs usually pick them by making direct eye contact.
“We had an idea of what we wanted,” she said.
Lightening showed up at a home near the Flume and was taken to Noah’s Ark. there he was in a cage with another dog. Lightening grabbed the Wheelers’ hearts through making eye contact, while the other dog just looked around.
“Lightening goes shopping for his toys and 80 percent of his time is spent playing with the toys,” said Greg Wheeler.
Pretzel has terrible scars on her back as a result of human inflicted burns. the Wheelers looked past the scars to a kindred spirit who had plenty of love to offer.
Indie, who was abandoned in the outside cage at Noah’s Ark, is still adjusting, but feeling at home more and more each day. She perks up when she sees a tennis ball, which is no doubt something pleasant from her past.
“Every dog is different - a different flavor,” said Greg Wheeler. “Every dog we’ve ever had came from the Ark.”
“It’s gratifying to give a dog a good home,” Kathy Wheeler said, noting that they prefer the homeless ones from the shelter.
