What I Learned From Ruby

I always had a dog growing up, and to me, it was one of the treasured memories of my childhood. Whether it was running through hot, hazy days of a New England summer with a romping dog bounding joyfully behind me or sleeping with a faithful canine companion curled around my feet, I simply enjoyed the beautiful uncompromising love that only a dog can provide.

So when moving out on my own, and quickly drowning in a sea of new responsibilities, I found myself longing for that same sense of companionship once more. I thought, “Why not get a dog?” I went to my local shelter, instead of looking at breeders. and that was where I met Ruby.

Ruby was a large German Shepherd. To say she was merely large is an understatement; Ruby was one of the largest I had ever seen, and far larger than any dog I had ever handled. When I met her, I was afraid her; I was cautious of all the negative stories I had heard over the years of rescue animals. I had also not set out to pick up an animal with, “major problems” as I thought of them; this was a desire to help myself, and I was unsure if I could manage an animal from a shelter.

It turned out my fears were unfounded; not only was she easy to manage, but she was a joy to have in my life, and she really showed me that shelter animals are just like any others! Ruby was energetic, to be sure, but she handled transitioning into her new life well, and she never gave me any problems when we went for a walk or out in public. She really was just another happy pet, and you would never know she was from a rescue shelter unless you were told.  It really helped me see that a lot of the negatives surrounding rescue pets were nonsense, and that they were all just as capable and deserving of love as any other kind of pet

Ruby has since passed, but we shared many wonderful years together, and if I could go back and do it all over again, I would. There is nothing to be afraid of from shelter animals. They are just as deserving of rescue and comfort as any other, and I will always be grateful to Ruby for showing me that!