Your Pet's Rescue Story
We adopted Lola from the Schnauzer and Fox Terrier Rescue League in November 2009 when she was just 13 months old. While trying to convince my husband we needed a dog, I was simultaneously working with the rescue league my family had adopted from in the past. The day before Thanksgiving I received a phone call from the rescue. They were in need of a foster family for a rescue who was coming in that day-a 13 month old female from Sarasota named 'Peanut.' She had been purchased as a puppy from a Sarasota Petland. Her former owner had recently lost his job and had been evicted from his apartment. 'Peanut' had been living in his sister's bathroom for a month, while she had her listed for sale on Craigslist. Thankfully the rescue found her and had her transported up to Orlando! We signed the adoption paperwork the next week, after fostering her through the Thanksgiving holiday, and we changed her name to Lola. Her coat was thin and she tested positive for heartworms. A few months later she also tested positive for ehrlichiosis, a disease transmitted by ticks. Today, she's a healthy and rambunctious 7 year old.

Lola was our first baby. She's now one of three-a big sister to our two little (human) girls. She has been such a light in our lives and I truly believe the stars aligned when we brought her home. She needed us, a loving family who could take on the financial responsibility to help her overcome her medical issues, but we really needed her the most. We often get stopped by strangers while walking her, wanting to know what kind of dog she is. I always use it as an opportunity to tell people you don't need to pay hundreds (or thousands) of dollars for a wonderful dog-or a pure bred dog. There are dogs of all kinds at shelters and rescues that are in need of loving homes.