Beauford's Adoption Story

Pet's name: Beauford
Adopted by: Shannon Sumrall
From: SPCA of Tennessee in Brentwood, Tenn.

Beauford's story originally appeared on Shannon's blog, Why Not On A Tuesday. Beauford turned Shannon into a true dog person!

I have never been much of a dog person per se. I always had dogs growing up, but they were always outside dogs and not really my dogs. I never had to worry whether they ate or bathed or got their shots—my parents took care of that. So, I never really got too attached to a pet and never really understood when other people did.

Since day one of our marriage, Adam has wanted a dog. We have gone back and forth, but the timing was just never right. We were always going from, “Let’s get a dog!” to “We are NOT ready for a dog!”

One random day in November, I started looking around on petfinder.com, because the hubby and I were currently in the “Let’s get a dog!” phase. There he was—the cutest, sweetest looking, tan-and-white basset hound I had ever seen, named Beauford (pronounced "Buford").

As soon as I got home from work that day, I showed Adam Beauford’s profile. He immediately wanted to fill out an application for adoption, because just like me, he had a gut feeling that this was our dog. Come to find out, Beauford was an 11-month-old purebred basset hound who had been given up for adoption from a basset hound breeder in Alabama for unknown reasons. Our local SPCA had just received him and had just posted Beauford online. We were the very first ones to inquire about him.

After meeting Beauford at his foster family’s home, we knew that he was the missing piece to our puzzle. He has been nothing but a joy and has added so much to our lives. I never envisioned myself getting so attached, but he is more than a pet; Beauford is a member of our family. I can’t image why anyone would have wanted to get rid of Beauford, but God had a plan. Not only did Beauford need us, but we needed him too. He has enriched our life by tenfold, and I can’t image life without him.

Beauford was named Nashville Predators (NHL)/Pedigree Dog of the Month in January.
He was featured on the Predators’ dasherboard for the whole month.

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If you adopted a pet from a shelter or rescue group and you'd like to share his or her story, please email me. I'd love to hear from you!

Wally's Adoption Story

Wally on the day he was adopted by Angel and Ben

Pet's name: Wally
Adopted by: Angel and Ben Carlson
From: Carrie’s Canine Rescue (New Hampshire) by way of Tennessee

You can read about the adventures of Wally and his pal LuLu at Life With LuLu. This is his adoption story:

We found our Boston Terrier, Wally, listed on Petfinder.com in September 2010. His adoption was arranged through Carrie’s Canine Rescue of New Hampshire. His original Petfinder listing is still available on Petfinder.com.

Originally named "Paulie," he and his five littermates had been turned over to a Tennessee rescue with their mother. Little did the rescue know, the puppies all had parvovirus—a virus that attacks the lining of the digestive system and causes dogs to be unable to absorb nutrients or liquids. Even though their foster mother gave them incredible intensive care, two of the six puppies did not make it. The remaining four puppies, Paulie (now our Wally), Lincoln, Bobble, Prudence, and their mother, Penny, were all spayed and neutered and placed for adoption on Petfinder.

On September 25, 2010, Wally hitched a ride on the Last Chance Highway and made the long journey from Tennessee to his new home with us in Massachusetts. It was a match made in heaven!

Wally is everything that his foster mother promised—a true lovebug, VERY loving and playful, just a really good boy! :) He's been with us almost a year now, and we couldn't imagine our lives without him. He makes every day just a little bit brighter and never fails to bring a smile to my face.

Wally at one year old