The story below is from our March/April 2022 issue. For more stories like it, Subscribe Today. Thank you!
Adopting a fur baby often starts with a search locally, but it can take you on a journey to find the perfect addition to your family.
It can happen in an instant. Your family decides to add a new member. You might go to a local shelter and fall in love with one of the cats or dogs waiting to be adopted, and you just know that loveable face is going home with you.
Sometimes, though, you want an animal of a certain age or breed. Or there may be specific traits you think would be the best fit for your family. That can lead to looking outside of the area to adopt.
That is what happened when Tracy and Justin Laughlin of Roanoke County adopted Maybelline, a corgi mix, from PAWS of SWVA in 2018.
“I love a corgi,” Tracy says. “I’m a huge fan of the breed. My husband and I had been looking for a corgi on rescue sites. It’s not common they show up.”
After a trip to the mall where they saw corgis at the pet store, Tracy said that was it, she had to have one. She knew there must be a dog that needed to be adopted by them, so they went on PetFinder.com and extended their search radius to 300 miles.
Maybelline was found by a dumpster in Norton, Virginia, a rural area where it can be hard to get adopted. Only six months old, she had been rescued and taken care of in a foster home where she was socialized, was up to date on shots and microchipped.
The Laughlins drove about three hours, including “an hour on the curviest road of my life,” says Tracy. “We feel very lucky because we drove out to meet her and just knew she was ours. She is fun, likes to bark and loves other dogs. We could not imagine our lives without her.”
Getra and Steven Selph also started their search locally for a specific breed.
“My husband, Steven, and I knew we wanted a Yorkie (Yorkshire Terrier),” says Getra. “Our previous dog, Cali, was a Yorkie who came from a rescue organization in NC. After she passed away at age 11 from cancer, we had mixed emotions about adding a new dog to our family.”
After researching local rescue organizations, they submitted an application with NC Yorkie Rescue because they “seemed to have a passionate network of volunteers and adoption success stories.” The detailed application included photos of their home as well as personal references, including their veterinarian.
“For us, finding the right dog was more important than just having a dog,” Getra explains. “Since I work from home, I wanted a dog who would lay beside me quietly while I work. We talked about the type of dog we hoped to adopt, and we knew it was a tall order. I yearned for a dog who was friendly, gave kisses, and enjoyed snuggling. I hoped the dog would have a bit of blonde hair on his head because I loved that feature about our beloved Cali. I wanted what seemed like the impossible. We were willing to compromise and be open-minded.”
After a nine-month search, Getra woke early on Sunday, November 1, 2020, to an email. “That’s when I first laid on eyes on Jackson – a four-year-old, 11-pound Yorkie with a blonde-haired head, available through NC Yorkie Rescue.”
Upon contacting the organization, they were told two other families had expressed interest. A few hours later, they were told they would be a better fit. The other families had children or pets and Jackson had been surrendered by a family who had children with special needs. They arranged to meet Jackson via zoom that morning. The foster mom wanted them to come and meet him in person that day – in Raleigh, North Carolina.
The Selphs weren’t prepared for a seven-hour-round trip, but they didn’t want to miss meeting Jackson. The foster mom drove Jackson to another foster mom in Burlington, NC where they got to meet him. It wasn’t a perfect meeting, but there was something there and they took Jackson home that day.
“Within a week of having Jackson in our home, I knew he was meant to be ours. He was everything I had hoped for and more. He even liked wearing sweaters!” says Getra. “I worried about how I would adjust to having a new dog in our home who looked a bit like Cali, but it quickly became apparent that Jackson was not replacing our beloved Cali. He needed a loving home, and we wanted a dog to love. No one could ever replace our Cali. Jackson is special in his own, unique way. I’m so glad we waited for the right dog to come along. We hit the jackpot with Jackson!”
Sandi Boyd’s daughter, Christina Lazenby, (then 20), wanted a Dachshund for Christmas the year after her brother Lee died. Boyd already had a Doxin, Maddie, and she knew how much a beloved pet can help get you through tough times.
After a two-month search, Lazenby found 18-month-old Angel on a website. She had been turned over by a breeder when she failed to bear puppies. She had worms and had to be medically cleared before being transported by the All American Dauschand Rescue (a 501C out of Tennessee) volunteers from the New Hampshire foster to Staunton.
To be considered to adopt, Boyd filled out the application, paid a $300 adoption fee, had a home visit by a local woman to ensure they were a suitable family and provided three references in addition to a vet recommendation.
Angel, a short-haired cream Doxin became Angel Lee (after Lazenby’s brother) upon adoption seven weeks later in January 2017.
Boyd adopted another Doxin in September 2020 that came from a puppy mill in North Carolina and was fostered in Alabama. Genesis, now Geni Mae, was kept for three years in a crate with no socialization. At three, she had maxed out the number of litters she could have, so was turned over to the rescue agency. She was underweight, skittish and a flight risk. Volunteers brought her from Alabama in one hour stretches so Sandi could pick her up in Wytheville.
“It took time to gain trust,” says Boyd. “She still cowers with sudden moves and is skittish around new people, but she gets along with the other Doxins, is the perfect weight now and a love bug.”
Boyd has been volunteering as a driver since they adopted Angel because she wanted to give back to the organization. She says, “I super value them because they took such good care of our pups before we got them.”
Finding the perfect pet for your family can be an adventure, near or far. Knowing your family’s needs and the pet’s needs can help determine the best fit for your family and ensure you have a wonderful adventure.
Tips for adopting
“Make sure the dog is a fit for your family and gets along with other pets you have. Smaller rescues usually know a lot about the personality of the animals so you can make sure they are a fit.
Some sites allow you to specify age/breed/size.
Read the fine print as some rescues are specific about where they will adopt to. When we were looking, we found some that were in NC that would only adopt to families in NC.” –Tracy Laughlin
“Go through a reputable rescue organization. Work with a rescue that does in-depth vetting to ensure dogs go to a good home.
Get background information on pet history leading up to rescue and adoption.” – Sandi Boyd
“My advice to someone looking is to make a list of what’s important to you based on your lifestyle and home. If you want a specific breed, go ahead and submit an application with organizations who specialize in breeds you are most interested in.
Tell your friends you are searching for a dog and describe what you’re hoping to find. Sometimes the best of pet parents have a change in circumstances that result in needing to rehome a pet who is loved. Divorce, job changes, illness or the passing of the human pet parent are all reasons that pets may need to find a new forever home.
Try to keep an open mind and remember it takes months for a dog to adjust to a new home. Give the new dog a chance and be patient while he settles in. It’s scary being in a new place.” –Getra Selph
Local Agencies Rehome Animals from Near and Far
There are plenty of opportunities to adopt a new family member locally. Pets are turned over to a shelter for many reasons including family health issues or financial challenges. Local rescue agencies like Angels of Assisi and the Roanoke Valley SPCA also work with national rescue organizations to find homes for pets displaced due to a natural disaster as well as those removed because of neglect, hoarding or puppy mills.
In late 2021, the RVSPCA “received four dogs and all have been placed in loving homes with individuals who understand their special needs and are willing to work with them to develop them into the most loving dogs that they can be,” according to Julie Rickmond, RVSPCA Marketing and Communications Director.
“Folks interested in adopting dogs (or cats) from difficult circumstances typically begin working with the pet through a behavioral foster to adopt situation. During this time, trained professional staff from both inside our organization and outside are enlisted to support the transition of the animal to its new home as well as provide the adopter with the skills and training to work with the pet’s special needs. As the adopter and the pet develop a deeper relationship, the adoption is completed.”
Lisa O’Neill, Director at Angels of Assisi, says that the staff will pick up animals from other areas, including many in the Carolinas. She shared that there is a network of transports up and down the East Coast to move pets from the south to the north where they are more likely to be adopted. There is also a program by the Virginia Federation for Human Societies that helps take pets from rural areas where they aren’t as likely to be adopted to bigger cities like Richmond and Northern Virginia.
Other places to adopt locally include Salem Animal Shelter, RCACP (Regional Center for Animal Control and Protection) and Planned Pethood.
The story above is from our March/April 2022. For more stories, subscribe today or view our FREE digital edition. Thank you for supporting local journalism!