Every Boy Should Have a Puppy - A Project and a Nice Story

For a loooooong time, I’ve wanted to adopt a puppy. We couldn’t have
one when I was a kid (allergies, parents, etc.), then for a long time
I lived in the city. I know, I know, there are plenty of city dogs and
it’s quite possible to give them wonderful lives, but I just wasn’t
sure my lifestyle would allow for that. Personally, for my ambition
as a dog caretaker, I resolved not to seriously entertain bringing
home a canine companion until I had a fenced yard that he could enjoy
and relax in without being leashed or strictly supervised. Just under
two years ago, I moved into my very first house, with a great big yard
and a nice tall fence. Perfect, right?

Seemingly, yes. At first, the house needed a lot of work. The
previous occupants had kept dogs, but were not terribly responsible
about it. So, there was a lot of rehabbing to be done to floors,
walls, woodwork and carpet. I really wanted to bring a puppy home,
but I had to do it right. Have the infrastructure and resources all in
place, really set us up for success, y’know? The plan was to adopt
near the beginning of summer vacation (I’m a teacher), so we’d have
plenty of time to bond, and train, and acclimate and play and
socialize and... you get the picture. Things were looking good, and
then... I lost my job.

Again, not wanting to leave the door open for failure, Project Puppy
had to be postponed. I have a second (and now a third... and half a
fourth) job, and some savings and other resources, so it’s not like
I’m in real danger of becoming homeless. BUT, taking on additional,
non-elective expenses right now wouldn’t be fiscally responsible.
Unless, of course, I have help; that’s where you come in.

It occurs to me, that oftentimes in the community of dog lovers, that
when someone has a litter or finds a stray or has to move, and looks
to place their pooch in a home rather than abandon them to a shelter,
they reach out to their networks of friends and fellow-dog-lovers. So
often I’ve overheard the phrase, “Ohhh, I’d love to, but...” don’t
have the space/money/time for another dog, the wife/husband/landlord
would kill me, I’ll ask around... I know that many donate generously
to the ASPCA and various rescue organizations, on top of whatever is
spent providing furry friends with toys and treats galore. I thought
that perhaps, some of these dog lovers who have already filled their
own homes to capacity with paws and leashes, might be willing to
contribute to keeping at least one pup out of “the system” and in a
comfortable home; and Project Puppy was born.

If you’ve got the dime, I’ve got the time. The house is in order, the
backyard is all set, I’ve done a fair amount of research and
dogsitting. I’ve got a small network of dog-friends to socialize with
and a reliable de facto sitter if I should ever need to travel out of
town. The last missing piece is the available fundage to provide food,
equipment, vet care, etc. I figure if I can scrape together $1000,
that should be adequate for a years’ worth of normal care. Maybe a
little more, considering the initial outlay of bowls and a leash and a
bed. If you support the cause, and care to throw a dollar or two in
the pot, I’ll squirrel these funds away specifically for this purpose,
and every little bit helps. Like child support, except this child is
kinda hairy and has really harsh breath and I will never ask you for a
paternity test. If you can’t afford to donate, but know someone who
would, maybe you’ll forward them a link so they can come read?

That’s about as far as I’ve thought this web plea through. My owner
taught me not to beg, but I’ve a feeling that if enough people just
read this site, I won’t need to. I’ll keep the site updated with how
close we are to the goal, and hopefully once we succeed, pictures/
videos/updates on the little guy’s progress. Thanks for your time, and
your generosity!

http://www.project-puppy.com/