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written by Kim Smith on November 27th, 2011 | 
(as told by Paul Jolly, Executive Director, the Petco Foundation)
Years ago, I met the very best dog in the world.
 I was a child of 12 when we got her. She was part terrier, and (I swear) part human. She was a rescue, not expected to live more than six months, but her spirit was too much for the disease that ravaged her body. She was selected by my dying brother and became his comforter and companion as we all faced his eventual passing. She taught us that our pets are not purchased but ordained.
Her name was Hope. She romped when I did and knew how to smile in that funny way that only some dogs have. She grew up with me and helped me grow up. She helped me face the loss of my wonderful brother. She was always there when I needed her. My grown hand still remembers the sleek bump on the top of her head and that gentle divot just past her nose that fit my index finger just perfectly.
She passed away one winter. My heart broke then, and I knew that there would never be another dog like her. And there hasn’t been. I was sure I could never love another dog as much as I’d loved her.
Fortunately, I was wrong about that part.
 My next dog came into my life Continue reading »
written by Kim Smith on October 13th, 2011 |
  Currently there are 15 purebred Labrador Retrievers at our local shelter. One of them, Molly, is the sweetest 8 month old adolescent who looks amazingly like the yellow lab I had when I was a young adult. She leans in to your hand and gazes up at you with these adoring chocolate colored eyes. When I visited her yesterday, she lifted a paw in my direction and then squished up against the bars of her kennel for some soft pets. I know she’ll be adopted quickly by someone who specifically wants a lab and who is savvy enough to know that they will find one at the shelter. Additionally our local Lab rescues have an abundance of every age and every color of labs that have been rescued through the county shelters over the years. There are three Lab rescues in our city – that’s how many labs end up in shelters here! Yet, when I mention to an avid animal welfare zealot that a specific breed seems a good fit for their family, they generally get this horrified look on their faces and assume that I’m recommending that they purchase a dog from a breeder. Often they look down their noses at me, snort “I will take a rescue, thank you very much” and storm off in the opposite direction, muttering how the Petco Foundation certainly is misguided. Their assumption is that rescues are only mixed breed dogs.
Unfortunately shelters and rescues today do not Continue reading »
written by Daniel Sundin on September 21st, 2011 |
The following guest blog comes from Susan Hartzler from Alpha Dog PR in support of Petco’s National Adoption Reunion.
 Baldwin cheers up the children at County USC Medical Center with his special kind of canine love. I’m a dog lover. Have always been one, will always be one. My first dog as an adult was a pound mutt I named Blondie. She lived to be 19-and-a-half years old and I cherish every moment I spent with her. When she died, it was so excruciatingly painful that I felt like I had lost the best part of me, my own soul was gone. I didn’t know who I was any longer if I didn’t have that blonde fur ball to look after.
I decided to volunteer at a local animal shelter. Immediately, I met a little black curly haired puppy who made it clear he had eyes for me but my heart was too broken to consider bringing him home. He sure was trying to convince me otherwise.
“Mom, you don’t think I should get another dog, do you?” I called her that night certain she would be the voice of reason.
“You’re a dog person. Of course you should Continue reading »
written by Daniel Sundin on September 7th, 2011 |
The following guest blog comes from Travelin’ Jack and his person Jill in support of Petco’s National Adoption Reunion.
 I am not just any ordinary dog (at least I don’t think I am!). I am a Travel Writer’s Assistant and Sidekick! And I love to hit the road with her on our adventures around New Mexico! But first, Iet me tell you a bit about myself. In addition to traveling around our beautiful state, I do have a history…I am a rescue dog….and here is how my story began!
My person…..her name is Jill (that’s right…..we are the “Jack and Jill” team!) was actively searching for a new bulldog partner. Her special friend, Patricia, who lives in Colorado (and is a special angel in her own rights) works actively for a Great Dane rescue organization. She knew Jill was looking for a bulldog, and when she came across my photo and profile on the Pueblo CO animal shelter website…well, she just knew! A phone call, and the process was started. Soon I was adopted by Jill. I was a sprite 7 months young, full of p….and vinegar! My first family didn’t understand that doggies need more than love and food…they also need direction and training. I didn’t know that at first, but I soon learned from Jill what behaving is all about! Of course that came after a couple of little Continue reading »
written by Kim Smith on July 13th, 2011 |
 Recently, a coworker mentioned that they were considering spaying their 6 month old puppy but were complaining that they didn’t have the 3 months to keep her calm during recovery. Three months – really?!? I’m certain my jaw hit the floor as I looked at her to see if she was kidding me. She wasn’t. And she even went on to say that they were about to go on vacation and she really needed the $1000 for the vacation instead. Surely I was being punked! I wonder how many people aren’t spaying or neutering their pets because their perception is that it is that invasive to their lives?!?
I quickly set about gently updating my friend. I have fostered over 30 puppies, not to mention countless other tiny beings. To that end, I feel like I have a pretty good perspective on Continue reading »
written by Michael McKibben on July 7th, 2011 |
PETCO and Royal Canin are teaming up to help feed cats in need with the Give One Get One campaign.
I’m a dog guy. When I was younger, a dog was a member of our family at several different times. My friends had dogs, and if our extended family owned a pet, it was also, a dog. The suburban environment of my childhood, with single-family homes and large yards, lent itself well to dog ownership. After graduating from college, I happily continued the legacy and became the pet parent of my wonderful black lab Cyber.
Cats, on the other hand Continue reading »
written by Daniel Sundin on April 29th, 2009 |
The following story comes from Roxy Gieroski, Dog Trainer and Companion Animal Specialist at Store 1809 in Elmira, N.Y.
 Dixie after her forever family intervened; her skin is healed.
I met Dixie as an 8-week-old pup while visiting a person I know that breeds my beloved Collies. Looking down at a litter of six, there was no competition. She was the one.
I wasn’t there to get a puppy and knew that I’d be walking out without her that day. But instantly, I was drawn to that little tricolor puppy. I spent hours with her and cried when I had to leave.
Only once before had I had an immediate bond with a dog like that. Piper, my very own tricolor female, had died on her first birthday, Christmas Day, only a couple of years earlier. Continue reading »
written by Matthew Hickerson on April 16th, 2009 |
 Photo from Pamela at Store 559 in San Diego, Calif. “I’m moving and I can’t bring my pet.”
“We’re having a baby and just don’t have time anymore.”
“My new apartment doesn’t allow big dogs.”
“My child has lost interest in the pet.”
“We’re in the military and can’t have our pet on base.”
These are just a quick example of reasons people give up their pets. This is very upsetting for me. Why do people think it’s ok to just give away their pet? I could never imagine having to give away my pets, but if you look at Craigslist under the Pets section, you’ll find an incredible number of people who are doing this.
Do you not consider your pet part of the family? Would you abandon your child? This may seem extreme, but I think this is the way pets should be treated, as part of the family.
Continue reading »
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