Join us for a multi-week blog series as we share some of YOUR favorite pet stories. Thank you for sharing them with us!
Pet’s Name: Max
Owners: Jule Sowder, Troutville
Breed: Collie/Hound/Other MIX 🙂
Age: 5
Gender: Male
Gets his/her shots and pet care at: Botetourt Veterinary Clinic
Your Pet’s Story: Max is a rescued dog from the League of Animal Protection. He was adopted from the facility as a puppy and then returned in quite poor health at the age of 9 months. When we first saw him after he was returned, he was so thin and his fur was brittle. One look into those soulful eyes and we knew instantly he was the dog for us. Plus, our dog of 10 years was taken with him, as well. We’ve had him for more than 4 years. He has such a great spirit, gets along with other animals and is so loving. He’s a full 70 pounds now and has a healthy coat. We are so fortunate to have him as part of our family.
Favorite Place to Play: City Dogs
Favorite Treat: Kong ball filled with treats and peanut butter
Favorite Toy: Rope
Best Trick: Making his owners feel guilty about not giving him that one ‘extra’ treat!
Best Advice for Pet Owners: Remember that dogs grow old and need your love, attention and vet care more than ever when they age.
Pet’s Name: Jake & Valor
Owner: Austen Schwend, Troutville
Breed: German Shepherd Mix
Age: 2 years
Gender: Male
Gets his/her shots and pet care at: Read Mountain Animal Hospital
Your Pet’s Story: When I was living in The Orchards apartment complex in Bonsack, I decided to get a true companion animal. After looking for a few months, I found a local rescue group and took a white GSD named Jake on a trial period over a weekend. On the very first walk of ours, it was 55 degrees outside and raining. I saw a young woman walking a black lab puppy down to the dumpsters in our apartment complex. She wasn’t rushing the dog at all, she was letting the puppy smell whatever it wanted to smell. I decided I needed to see how Jake handled meeting a strange dog and I made it so our paths crossed. The two dogs got along great, and the young woman and I fell in love and are now married. Our first date was at the Highland Dog Park.
Favorite Place to Play: Our back yard, Highland Dog Park (where our first date was), Salem Rotary Club dog park, Smith Mountain Lake
Favorite Treat: ANYTHING!
Favorite Toy: Kong chew toys, Kong squeaky toys
Best Trick: “Hold” – “Find it” – “Get the squirrel”
Best Advice for Pet Owners: It’s not a human.
Pet’s Name: Watson & Sherlock
Owner: Juanita Atwood, Roanoke County
Breed: Siamese mixed breed
Age: Watson – 2 years, Sherlock – 7 months
Gender: Male
Gets his/her shots and pet care at: Valley Animal Hospital
Your Pet’s Story: My husband and my son each separately within a week expressed a desire for a Siamese with neither one knowing that the other had the same wish. We prefer rescue animals for pets and after some searching, I ended up at the Pulaski Humane Society. I had wanted to find two Siamese kittens to adopt together so that they had each other with which to play. I found several Siamese-mixed cats there. One was a five-month old chocolate point and one was a young adult seal point. Although in separate rooms at the shelter, they had never seen each other until we put them together in a visitation room. Long story short, they were meant to be together. They often sleep cuddled together. They eat, play, groom and talk just like littermates!
Favorite Place to Play: Watson and Sherlock love climbing to the top of the cat tree and grappling for King of the Hill. Generally they end up cuddled together like yin and yang or with their heads curled around each other.
Favorite Toy: Sherlock carries a knotted rope around the house. When we throw the rope up to hang from the cat tree, Watson and Sherlock will excitedly climb the post to get it. Sometimes they play tug of war on the floor with each pulling an end of the rope.
Best Trick: The tug of war — although they only do it when they want, not as a trick. They are cats after all. Dogs do tricks; cats play royalty.
Best Advice for Pet Owners: Open your hearts to rescue animals. Even if you wish a purebred pet, look for the breed’s rescue club. A pet’s love is a great stress reliever!
