Meet: Three Death-Row Pardons!

At Sophie's Dog Adoption we rescue dogs from a variety of situations. Many come to us as forfeits, abandoned by the families they have loved and lived with for years.

Some are found as strays, wandering city streets, usually emaciated, extremely dirty and infested with fleas.

And others are taken off of death-row.

Yesterday Sophie got a call from her contact at a kill shelter about 2 dogs slated for destruction.

Neither had behavioural issues or severe health issues and, in fact, both had passed the adoption evaluation with flying colors. Still, these perfectably adoptable dogs were going to be killed.

The reason they were going to die: one has an ear infection and the other has a small rash on his rear leg. Both of these are easily treatable conditions that won't cost more than $25 to cure.

It's hard to imagine having so little value for life. An ear infection- kill the dog. A rash- kill the dog. Nervous- kill the dog. Doesn't want to play- kill the dog. Over the age of 7- kill the dog.

And while we can't ever save all the dogs that are on death row, hell we can hardly make a dent in the number that will die this week, today we welcomed three new friends into the rescue and out of harms way.

YOGI

Yogi is two year old Bernese Mountain Dog/Golden Retriever mix.

He's lively, playful and likes to think he's a little lapdog.

We spent some time running after tennis balls together...

but then Yogi thought it'd be more fun if I gave him a bellyrub!

KAHLUA

Kahlua is a nine-month old Shepherd/Lab mix. As a puppy, he was adopted out from the shelter. The he came back. He'd already been there a month before we got him, so he's spent a lot of his life behind the shelter bars.

Now he's ready for the good life- outdoor smells and sounds, playing and wrestling with new dog friends and the comfort of sleeping in a home and not on a feces covered concrete floor.

LEXISLexis, a 7 year old Pomeranian, was a last minute rescue. Sophie's shelter contact pointed her out as we were leaving. She had been up for adoption, but was scheduled to be killed because she hadn't been chosen fast enough.

When we got her to the car she was so timid and afraid she was shaking, but when the boys went in to see the vet she started climbing all around the car, exploring everywhere, searching for treats and jumping up to the look out the windows!

It's amazing how quickly dogs pick up on their new found safety and come out of their shells.

So we went with the intention of rescuing one dog and instead busted out of there with three! As thrilled as I am that we helped who we could, my heart stays with those we couldn't.

The needless deaths will continue on tomorrow and next week and for the rest of the year. Millions will die every year until we start taking responsibility for pet populations and sterilizing all companion animals.

Because most dogs born this year will end up here. With no one to rescue them.

I'm so sorry.