Mental Health Dogs, Too

About half a dozen people on Linked In, Google says, have been sharing this lovely meme...

Tout a propos...We did Feline Friday last week, so this week it's Canine Friday with adorable adoptable dogs whose human friends think they have what it takes to offer mood therapy. 

I looked for Mixed Breeds, because Mixed Breeds also help people overcome social phobia and isolation, and get acquainted with congenial people in their neighborhoods. You go to the dog park with a Mixed Breed, people ask "What kind of dog is that?", and the room for witty replies is endless.

"Five Flavors Life Saver."

"One hundred percent pure DOG."

"Metropolitan Melange."

"Shelter dog."

"A FINE dog!"

You can't say it's a good dog. That would be confusing. Dogs need to learn that "good dog" is a reward meaning they've done something right. If they've not responded to a command in the last minute or so, telling them they're good dogs would dilute the concept. So the answer to "What kind of dog is that?" needs to be something like "A WONDERFUL dog!" 

You might find that, like me, once you start thinking of these things, your brain goes on a roll and it's hard to stop thinking of them.

"A Poogleaver--poodle, beagle, and retriever."

"A Chihuarier--Chihuahua and terrier." 

"A Labradoodle."

Oh, wait...that's an actual breed, these days. Like Peke-a-poo and Cock-a-poo, which shouldn't be violations of this web site's contract, but they look like it. This post will not mention them again.

If, on the other hand, you don't want to make friends of the people you find at the dog park, you could always train the dog to growl on cue, so you could say "Come on...Good dog!" as you move briskly away.

Zipcode 10101: Freddie from...Tennessee, Actually 

His web page: https://www.petfinder.com/dog/freddie-62653538/ny/new-york/fayette-county-animal-rescue-tn57/

Freddie is actually in west Tennessee, down on the Mississippi border, in a small town called Rossville. The shelter there didn't think they were getting enough traffic so they worked out a deal to put this pup's picture on the New York City page. You can adopt him for a reasonable fee, considering his existing vet bill, if you're in New York City, or you can adopt him for less than half that if you're actually in west Tennessee and can skip the transportation fee. 

Freddie is literally just a puppy, born in September, last weighed at 28 pounds and still growing, still needing some training, likely to boost some lucky person's mood for years. He was the biggest, boldest pup in a litter of five and seems likely to be confident around other dogs. 

It is important to his rescuers that Freddie be offered a fenced yard. He's too big and too young to fit into an apartment. He's been neutered, vaccinated, and wormed, and the shelter staff are looking for adopters who've lived with other dogs who received regular veterinary care. 

Zipcode 20202: Sprite from Alexandria 

His web page: https://www.petfinder.com/dog/sprite-64284797/va/alexandria/big-dog-ranch-rescue-fl852/

The text at his web page seems a bit confused. I assume (this may be a risky assumption) that the shelter staff mean he's small, now, and is expected to become medium-sized, with a future healthy weight somewhere between thirty AND fifty-nine pounds. Anyway he's described as a nice, lovable puppy who likes to go for walks, snuggle, and chase toys.  The web page doesn't say this pup has to have a fenced yard, but he just looks as if he ought to have one. 

 

Zipcode 30303: Binky Barnes from Chamblee 

His web page: https://www.petfinder.com/dog/binky-barnes-64241050/ga/chamblee/dekalb-county-animal-services-ga423/

He's described as slightly shy with strangers, but just a good ol' boy at heart, meanin' no harm. He's not expected to get any bigger, and "Bonus: Will pass where there are breed restrictions." Most of the shelter dogs around Atlanta seem, going by their Petfinder photos, to have been abandoned because landlords or even neighborhood associations developed phobias of "pit bulls." Any hint of a bull terrier look gets even lovable Staffordshires and Scotties thrown into shelters. This web site officially deplores all such situations of bigotry. Terriers are bred to be bold and tough, not mean or vicious, and they can be sweet, lovable pets...Anyway Binky Barnes looks like a hound, not a terrier, so he arouses less prejudice. He's described as playful and cuddly. If he suffers from any delusions about his prospects in Nashville, his web page doesn't mention it.