The Dogmother Posted January 9, 2008 Share Posted January 9, 2008 If this doesn't bring a tear to your eye: A farmer had some puppies he needed to sell. He painted a sign advertising the 4 pups. And set about nailing it to a post on the edge of his yard. As he was driving the last nail into the post, he felt a tug on his overalls. He looked down into the eyes of little boy. 'Mister,' he said, 'I want to buy one of your puppies.' ' Well,' said the farmer, as he rubbed the sweat off the back of his neck, 'These puppies come from fine parents and cost a good deal of money.' The boy dropped his head for a moment. Then reaching deep into his pocket, he pulled out a handful of change and held it up to the farmer. 'I've got thirty-nine cents. Is that enough to take a look?' 'Sure,' said the farmer. And with that he let out a whistle. 'Here, Dolly!' he called. Out from the doghouse and down the ramp ran Dolly followed by four little balls of fur. The little boy pressed his face against the chain link fence. His eyes danced with delight. As the dogs made their way to the fence, the little boy noticed something else stirring inside the doghouse. Slowly another little ball appeared, this one noticeably smaller. Down the ramp it slid. Then in a somewhat awkward manner, the little pup began hobbling toward the others, doing its best to catch up.... 'I want that one,' the little boy said, pointing to the runt. The farmer knelt down at the boy's side and said, 'Son, you don't want that puppy. He will never be able to run and play with you like these other dogs would.' With that the little boy stepped back from the fence, reached down, and began rolling up one leg of his trousers. In doing so he revealed a steel brace running down both sides of his leg attaching itself to a specially made shoe. Looking back up at the farmer, he said, 'You see sir, I don't run too well myself, and he will need someone who understands.' With tears in his eyes, the farmer reached down and picked up the little pup. Holding it carefully handed it to the little boy. 'How much?' asked the little boy. 'No charge,' answered the farmer, 'There's no charge for love.' The world is full of people who need someone who understands .. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 9, 2008 Share Posted January 9, 2008 I'm filling up here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ziggy Posted January 9, 2008 Share Posted January 9, 2008 Okie... after steam-cleaner mania, now we're all going to be crying... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helen&Lee Posted January 9, 2008 Share Posted January 9, 2008 Aaawwwh.. I think thats a Chicken Soup For The Soul story. Those books fair warm the cockles Helen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 9, 2008 Author Share Posted January 9, 2008 Made my eyes prickle when I read it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 9, 2008 Share Posted January 9, 2008 (edited) things like this usually make me bawk, no offence. But, it did remind me of something... i was watching Paul O'Grady once and there was a little papillon dog on at the end of the programme, he does a sort of rehoming slot on his prog. The little papillon had a heart murmur and had had a metal pin in it's leg which they had removed because the bone had healed. It was the most gorgeous little thing. I have a heart murmur and pins in my arm and sooooo wanted to ring up and offer him a home. My head stopped me from doing it (cost of medication and medical care etc), sometimes I wish I'd followed my heart though. Edited January 9, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted January 9, 2008 Share Posted January 9, 2008 Being a runt, I'd choose the special pet too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 9, 2008 Share Posted January 9, 2008 i always have a soft spot for the underdog, that's why we got ex batts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 9, 2008 Author Share Posted January 9, 2008 I'm such a sucker for the underdog too.. that's why I have so many animals! My old lurcher was a rescue dog and such a gorgeous girl too, one of my cats - Georgie - was dumped at a local rescue centre while heavily pregnant - she had been kicked and abused and was pitifully thin when we first saw her. She is in excellent condition now, but is very wary of people still, and we've had her 3.5 years now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 9, 2008 Share Posted January 9, 2008 i found a link to the little papillon, he's at the top of the page but when i clicked on the home that had him, they ask for a MINIMUM donation of £150 if you re-home a dog. We just couldn't afford that, shame as I was checking to see if he's still available so much for there being no charge for love... http://www.channel4.com/entertainment/tv/microsites/P/paulogrady/homelessdogs.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ziggy Posted January 9, 2008 Share Posted January 9, 2008 I was surprised when we adopted our two adult cats a couple of years back, that the charity 'expected no payment for the animal, but there should be a donation of £65 minimum per cat'... it seemed to me to be a loophole around some legal 'can't sell animals for re-homing' thing for those charities... Though I also kind of understood when the paperwork further detailed 'if you can't part with that kind of money to adopt the pet, you should seriously re-consider whether you can take on the financial responsibility of feeding and providing vet care for an animal'... there is some truth in that too... I guess maybe that's just a kind of security filter they have, to make sure that people who take on pets can actually look after them, though I guess it's an odd net, cause coughing up some money upfront doesn't really guarantee anything as to what happens next... some people buy pets on impulse then don't provide adequate care, whereas others might find they'd rather keep that 'compulsory donation' amount to actually purchase insurance for the pet, or any other such useful thing... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 9, 2008 Share Posted January 9, 2008 We would have been able to give him a lovely home. We could have afforded his food and medication but not £150 up front. His medication would have been £15 a month alone. Still, I read on their forum that he's got a new home so that's good news. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fabergé Posted January 9, 2008 Share Posted January 9, 2008 The centre where we got our cats from also ask for a 'donation' from prospective adoptees, though they do say that thier priority is a good home for the animals so would consider re-homing to someone who was unable to give a large donation. I can see the centres' point of view too though. Afterall, they have to cover the costs associated with looking after the animal until it is re-homed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted January 9, 2008 Share Posted January 9, 2008 WE had a runt of the litter chihuahua when we were younger. Pure white, tiny, but had an overshot jaw. He was called Arnie & he kept up with the others & looked more like a mouse - sort of Stuart Little cutie face. As he was the runt, his mother didn't know he had been born and had squashed his front leg, which had set funny. The vet said he would nver make it, but he proved the vet wrong & lived until he was nearly 10! As he got older , he used to run round on 3 legs, with the dodgy leg held across his chest like Napoleon!!! He was a clever little bright button & we loved him to bits. I'll have to ask my mum for an old photo of him, he will melt your heart. WE have had a lot of rescue dogs & pets that no one else wanted, because they were different looking. I also have a heart murmur, but it is the one that doesn't need any medication - is it diastolic or systolic - I can't remember. I just have to be aware that I have it when exercising or doing extreme things! I'd always go for the runts! Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...