Relocating Rusty

The following is a true story based on many conversations that I have had with Susan, Rusty's mommy:

He is a mutt. Lots of golden retriever, but also maybe part chow-chow (since he has a purple tongue), and part…well, I don’t really know what other part. I do know he came into my life when I needed a confidant, a buddy and someone to love me unconditionally.

Rusty, my handsome, happy boy:

In 1995, Rusty was first adopted by a young man through Friends of Strays, an animal shelter in St. Petersburg, Florida. Rusty lived with this first owner until he was about 2 years old. Then, suddenly, Rusty’s owner could no longer “keep” him. I was finally on my feet after some rocky years as a single parent, and I had just bought my own home. It was the perfect time for me to have a dog, and it was something I had been wanting to do for many, many years. So in July of 1997, this furry, cheerful mutt became my boy.

Rusty is such a happy-go-lucky guy…my friend used to joke that if a burglar came into my home in the middle of the night, Rusty would lick his hand and say, “Follow me! I’ll show you where the valuables are!” Very rarely does he bark at strangers – he mainly just whines at the front window and waits for people to come into his home so that he can greet them and enjoy their company.

After Rusty had lived with me and my daughter for more than 6 years, I got re-married. My husband had already owned a Maine-Coon cat, named Tony, and when Tony joined our home, he and Rusty became best buddies. Rusty taught Tony to sit next to him when he comes in from outside, so that they can both get a treat. Rusty also enjoys going for car rides in his daddy’s truck, and at the end of the day, when my husband and I tell Rusty and Tony that it is bedtime, they both come into our bedroom to go to bed.

Rusty and Tony, relaxing together and looking out into our backyard:

Rusty in his daddy's truck, ready to go on another excursion:

Rusty has a great passion for chasing furry creatures that wander into our backyard. He loves to chase squirrels and recently he even caught a possum (opossum)! What an adventure that turned out to be…I spent an hour chasing Rusty around the yard, trying to get him to put the possum down. Finally, when it was all said and done, I put the possum in a bag and put the bag into the trash. The following day, my husband was gathering the trash and he was surprised to find that the possum was still alive…We set the creature free; he walked off, and he hasn’t been back since!

Rusty is beginning to show his age. He must be somewhere around 14 years old now, and his golden face has begun to turn white. He gets up a little slower than he used to, but he’s still my happy companion day in and day out. I sometimes try to imagine my life without my golden retriever mutt, but I just can’t. I know that relocating Rusty from his first owner to my family was one of the best things that could have happened for Rusty, and for me. I am so thankful I found out about the young golden-retriever-mix that needed a home, and I am grateful I was the person who could give that home to him.

Rusty's face is turning white - but his smile is still a happy one:

~ I will continue to share true stories with you in the hopes that they may inspire you to take some sort of action -
1) whether to move you to make a small donation to your local shelter,
2) to possibly donate a few hours of your time volunteering at a Humane Society or Rescue near you,
3) to become a foster-home for needy puppies or for animals awaiting adoption,
4) or to even become a "furever" home for a needy soul, like Susan did for Rusty. ~ Thank you!!