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I would starve before I took my dog to the pound. He’s as much a member of my family as is my wife.

It would never come to that because I would move the Earth to make ends meet. I’ve spent my entire life preparing, part of which means I work like I want to make my employers happy...they always are. I realize sometimes circumstances go beyond that and I got caught there once. My division closed. I was “out on the streets”. I cut my expenses to the bone and spent every waking hour making people want my services. It wasn’t long until I was working again.

The dog? He will eat before me.

It makes me want to go rescue one now though.

Kind of how my wife and I think about the dogs that have adopted us over the years.

We rescued him sorta. He had the puppy mange, herniated belly button and looked funny as a puppy. No one wanted him. We immediately fell in love with him...he's a year on Jan 6.

The Saturday after Thanksgiving (this year) a yellow lab showed up in my back yard. She made no effort to leave (in any direction) and not long after a dog that I recognized from the neighborhood also came to visit. We were working outside on ladders and while it gave me a birds-eye view of the dogs, I had no control of what they did (the neighborhood dog crossed the street several times). I climbed down and decided to take that one home (again). The yellow lab followed and when no one was at home to accept the one dog they both followed me back home.

The lab seemed to be bleeding from the rear (not in heat) so I came in and called the local PD. Nope, no one had reported her missing, try Animal Control. I called them and since the one seemed injured they came and collected both dogs (was taking the known one home and hopefully reading the owner the riot act).

Anyway, the lab was posted on the AC website for the required 8 days and I felt so guilty for turning her in. No one claimed her so I went in and adopted her. She is an old girl but so sweet.

Vet visit showed she had a tumor in her rectum (the bleeding) and she is also heartworm positive. The vet cut out the tumor, stitched her up and sent her home with me. We will not treat for heartworm since she is about 10 years old and probably also has cancer.

But, she has a home with us for however long she lives. A wonderful dog and my 6 year old Shepherd accepts her.

The only thing that I am angry about (yes, angry) is that she was obviously "dumped" by her owners. Even if they could not afford treatment, they could have taken her to our no-kill shelter (who is also Animal Control for the county) and while they have a $25 fee for owner surrender, if things were that tight I am sure they would have waived that.

There are some bittersweet but happy endings for these guys. I can't help but feel that she was given to me for a reason and I will do the best that I can for her.