Hesitant about adding a pet to your hectic New York life? Contributor Kelly Moore takes the plunge and reports from the front lines…
I have wanted a dog for the longest time. I walk down the streets of New York and melt every time I see a cute one. Finally, last week, I took the leap and got one of my own.
Why did I wait so long? Many reasons. For starters, I always thought it would be best to adopt a dog rather than get a puppy. So many dogs reside in city shelters and end up euthanized, so why not give one of them a nice new home? I’d been looking on Petfinder for a while, a site where “adoptable” dogs are listed, and never quite found the right one. For my first dog, I wanted to avoid any behavioral or health problems, and sometimes the adoptable dogs have issues. I was also a a little afraid of the responsibility, and wasn’t sure that my husband was really into the idea. I wasn’t sure how I felt about walking a dog all the time and cleaning up after it. On top of all that, I’m a little allergic, so only certain breeds would suit me. So, I made all kinds of excuses. That is, until I found little sweet Susie.
She was listed on Petfinder and seemed perfect. I saw her profile and immediately submit my application. Within a couple of hours, they contacted us and set up a meeting. Susie was living with her “foster mother,” a wonderful woman who is part of an organization called Zani’s Furry Friends that saves dogs from kill shelters in the city. More than a dozen people were interested in Susie, but the foster mother chose us as her new family. I cannot imagine why anyone would give her up. She is adorable, well behaved, house-trained, and sweet as can be. She’s the perfect dog!
I had massive amounts of doggie supplies shipped immediately—toys, bed, leash, collar, name tag, treats, food, and more. I’m learning all about “raw feeding” and have already whipped up some homemade doggie meals. Taking her on walks is a lot of fun—everyone stops us to comment about how pretty Susie is and to make doggie-chat. I can’t wait to take her to one of the dog parks to see how she does (I’m thinking Union Square). My husband loves her too and has immediately warmed to the idea of having a little friend around. I keep thinking that we should have done this a long time ago, but of course, if we had, we would never have met our Susie. If you are looking for a dog, I’d really encourage you to get one of these lovable little guys from a city shelter who need a new home and a new family. You won’t regret it!
Susie in her new home
