Remembrance

The act of adopting and fostering rescue dogs has been a part of my family’s history for as long as I can remember. Ever since I was a child, there was always a rescue dog somewhere in the family, somewhere in our lives. I remember them all, from the golden retriever, Lucky Joe, who was taken in through my grandfather and became a faithful companion to all in the family, to the black lab/boxer mix named Beau, one of the most loyal animals I have ever known, and no stranger to offering comfort and solidarity, even in his twilight years. Dogs can be wonderful companions, and I know that by remembering the loyalty, the companionship, the fun times when we played tag, and the quiet moments when that faithful companion just sat right beside me while I contemplated hardship. Throughout it all, there has been one man who influenced and orchestrated it all, one man who brought all of these canine companions into our lives. It is his story, out of all in my family history, to be the greatest exemplar of the Rescue Dog Games mission of “Adopt, don’t shop.“

The Architect

Meet Doctor David Carpenter. Though he is my father, he is a very busy man as a professional veterinarian, so I was fortunate to get a chance to sit down and interview him for this article. He has been engaged in medical study and practice all his life, even thinking about it as early as elementary school, and discovering his affinity for life sciences as early as high school. He graduated from the vet school at the University of Georgia, in Athens, GA, and has since come to be head doctor and co-owner of Hiram Animal Hospital, achieving the title of “County Vet” in the later years of his career. His start with rescuing and rehabilitating animals of all kinds goes back to his vet school years, where he even went so far as to help rehabilitate hawks and amputated deer. As a veterinarian, he offers plenty of support to animal rescue organizations, from discounts to collaborations. In many ways, he’s a strong supporter of the statement, “Adopt, don’t shop.” This is the man whose exploits brought many rescue dogs into the lives of myself, and the rest of our vibrant family.

He adopted his first dog back in vet school, and he had a pretty interesting story to tell there, short thought it might be. I’ll let a pull quote set the stage here…

Yep, you read that right. The puppy he adopted was so chilled out that they named her after a substance that’s used to chill animals out. Of course, what came after as she grew up was a paradoxical opposite of her name. That dog became a bundle of energy, to the point that he and his wife nicknamed her the “ADHD dog… with a capital H.” Dr. Carpenter spoke of her with fondness, recalling with a smile where he found her: in a litter of puppies that all pined for attention to the point of climbing all over him. This dog was a faithful companion throughout David’s vet school years. He has been healing, fostering, and driving adoption of canines in and out of the family ever since.

The Real Stars of the Show

You’ve been waiting for it, and they’re the main subject of the mission, so let me introduce you to a few of the furry friends my father brought into our lives over the years.

Skittish Little Bart

The latest addition to our family is a mix breed named Bart. I'm not fully aware of his story, no one is, but when he was adopted into our family, he certainly had us all asking questions when he showed a particular aversion to men. He was very skittish around even my father, a man who is known to be a strong advocate and reliable caretaker for dogs. It took time for him to warm up to me, and it took me time to learn to be patient with him. His disobedience was born of fear, which meant I needed to help him understand that I'm not someone he needs to be afraid of. That hit home for me when he eventually warmed up to my sister's boyfriend, a gentle, quirky lad named Jordan. Yeah, it made me bristle a little that he warmed up to Jordan first, but it also reinforced for me the value of patience. Once I began putting that into practice, progress was obvious. Now Bart and I are good friends. Though he remains a little skittish, he doesn't shy away when I try to pet him, and always wags his tail when he sees me, ready for food, treats, or playtime, usually all of the above.

« ‹ of 5 › »

Some Parting Words

Every single one of these dogs has been an important part of our lives, only brought to use through rescue and adoption. As you have seen, they each played a role in bringing comfort, joy, love, and companionship into our lives, and in many cases, they taught valuable lessons that helped me and everyone else in my family grow as individuals. I can’t stress enough the immense value in that! They were more than just lives we saved and cared for. In their own way, they repaid us by taking care of and teaching us. For that reason, I would encourage everyone who reads this to make the time and put in the effort to adopt a dog into your home and family, or provide foster care for these amazing animals. Doing either will likely lead you to learn valuable lessons. You’ll find joy, comfort, or satisfaction too. Maybe you’ll even gain a lasting faithful companion who will support you, make you laugh, and bring a smile to your face.

To the man who brought these wonderful animals into our lives, and in so doing sowed the seeds of powerful lessons and lasting friendships, you’re one of a kind, and a blessing on Earth.

Thanks Dad!

Let’s all follow his example! Adopt, don’t shop!

This article project was made in collaboration with Rescue Dog Games.