SPECIAL PETS

Special Pets - For animal lovers who love to go one step further

Occasionally at BCHS, we have pets who are not easily adoptable because they have special needs that requires finding a special home. Their personality is wonderful though and they become somewhat of a mascot because their time here awaiting a home is often prolonged. Even though it's amazing how an animal will adjust to living in a non-home environment, it is not ok for them to live like that indefinitely and we are hoping that through offering a "Specialty Pets" section we will be more likely to locate their special-needs adoptive families. If you are a specialty-pet kind of person (or know someone who is), seeking to help one of our favorites, please read on.

Tierra

Tierra's One Year Anniversary - Life Through The Eyes of a Shelter Dog

For the past year my home has been a 5x4 concrete cell at the Bradford County Humane Society. When I arrived at the shelter with my two nursing puppies April 25th, 2007, I really did not know why my human owner didn't want me anymore. Maybe he felt that my puppies and I were too much to take care of. Not only did he not want me but he took my pups from me so I was unable to feed them. Luckily, a humane officer found my pups. For weeks I was very scared and confused by my new surroundings. Loud barking from other dogs from all directions, strange people walking by looking at me, the sound of doors shutting, new dogs coming in, and other dogs going out, I never knew what to expect. I was very protective of my pups, as any new mother would be but one was simply not strong enough and passed before she could know the comfort of a home. Then the day came for my other young pup to get adopted. I was overjoyed for her, but only wish I could have gone with her.

A year later I am still here. I have seen many new faces come and go and I know the confusion they all feel as they come in. Like me, many of them are unwanted or even hurt by their owners. But for most, this place is just temporary, for me it has become what I know. I long for the days the workers let me out to play. I run and run all over the yard. I love to feel the freedom of just being able to run, jump and just play.

I now get along with all the people here but as the longest resident of this place I feel like "Top Dog". I still wish every day that someone will take me home so I can know the comfort of having a home that so many others here have come to know. I have even seen familiar faces come back to visit with their new family. I can see the joy on their face, they even smell good! Many people have almost taken me, but my dislike for cats, leaves me to be put back in my cage, only to wait for the next person to walk by and look my direction. All the workers want me to have a good home they even took me to the vet to get spayed so I would not have anymore pups that could one day end up here. They say that will help me get a home. I hope they're right.

Don't get me wrong, I could have it worse. I do get plenty of food, a bed to sleep on, medicine if I get sick and time to play. All the people here like me and treat me nice, which is more than I had before, so I have really made the best of it and I try to stay pretty happy, but at the end of the day, I am reminded that it's just another night I will spend in my cell, another night alone, wishing I had a real home, a quieter place where I can be the center of attention. Well, that has been my dream. After all, it has happened for so many others here, why not me?

In recognition of Prevention of Animal Cruelty Month, Bradford County Humane Society and Tierra, the shelters longest resident dog, want you to know what it is like for many animals at the shelter. Tierra is a spayed, female Boston Terrier mix. She is friendly and loyal, she loves to play and run around. She has seen many other pets get adopted, yet she is still at the shelter waiting for a family to love her. Please consider adoption before buying from a pet store or breeder, many unwanted pets like this one need love. Come visit Tierra today, maybe you are the one she is waiting for. Click here then click "watch video" to see a video clip of Tierra racing around the shelter's back yard.