My Dog...is Awesome!

A couple of months ago, we got a dog. I've always wanted a dog, but have never had one. My parents, my Dad especially, were very anti-dog. They made a mess, they were too much work, we aren't around enough. The usual run down that parents give their children as to why they can't have a pet. We did have several cats over the years, but most of them were "outside" cats and the one inside cat we had was cute, but got fat and moody. My fiance and I always knew that eventually we wanted a dog and finally decided to get one. After a couple weeks of looking we found one through 1-800-SaveAPet.com. This service is great. It basically connects you to pet rescue organizations all over the place to find a dog that is right for you. The great thing is that you can find out a lot of information about the dog online before you make any kind of commitment. If the dog is staying with a foster family they can tell you a lot about the dog; hates kids, barks a lot, etc. So, after looking we found a dog we liked. However, when we called the rescue organization they said that dog was spoken for, but his brother was recently returned from a family because they were allergic. We said we would check him out. The adoption process of a rescued dog is surprisingly long, but relatively painless. We met Reno at a Pet's Mart and were instantly in love. However, you don't get the dog right away, they then set up a home visit to make sure you don't live in a hovel. It makes sense, this dog has been rescued from a bad situation before, no need to be rescued again. The visit went great and after some money and some paperwork, we had Reno. (In case you haven't guessed, Reno is pictured above.)
We were fully prepared to handle all the trials and tribulations that come with having a dog, but honestly there haven't been hardly any. Reno is the best behaved dog. He doesn't tear stuff up, doesn't jump up on people, doesn't bark loudly, HE'S GREAT! When we got Reno he was already a year old, was house trained, and crate trained, so all of that helped. I think a lot of people get puppies and aren't willing to put in the time to properly train them, which leads to bad dogs. I wasn't completely sure that I would be a dog person, but I am and it feels great. There is nothing better than coming home from a crappy day and him greeting you with such excitement and love that you can help but cheer up a little. He makes you feel so great when you feel crappy and since is a rescued dog, he seems to truly appreciate you. Reno's litter was found wandering the streets, so luckily most of his life has been pretty good. When you own a dog, you are apart of a whole new world, full of dog treats, crates, toys, vets, and dog food. You go to the dog park and join a group of dog owners who are generally nice, sometimes weird, and always entertaining. You wonder why everyone doesn't own a dog and you question those who don't like dogs. Part of the problem is that all dogs aren't Reno I know, but then again he is an one of a kind pooch. So, if you are thinking of getting a dog, go for it, it might change your life.