by Wendy Hunter

“Every bride is beautiful. It’s like newborn babies or puppies. They can’t help it.”
? Emme Rollins

Spring has sprung, the grass is green, yadda, yadda, yadda. Yes, it’s a beautiful time of year, with everything blooming, everyone sneezing, and the world spinning as it should. I do enjoy this balmy weather, but it only reminds me of the inevitable arrival of summer. And if you’ve read my babblings for any amount of time, you know how much I despise that hot, sweaty season. Unless I’m lounging on a flamingo floaty in somebody’s pool, with a chilled cocktail in my hand, I’m pretty miserable. Well, sitting indoors with the A/C blasting, and Netflix streaming is a close second. A chilled cocktail included in that scenario as well. And speaking of movies, if you haven’t seen A Dog’s Way Home yet, I highly recommend it. Yes, it does have some characteristics of a cheesy Hallmark movie, but it’s a sweet story, and the scenery is quite beautiful. Also, the mutt that plays the title character Bella is so adorable, you can’t help falling in love with her. Watch it with your own best friend, some popcorn, and a couple dog biscuits. Oh, and keep that box of Kleenex handy for the occasional tear or two … sniffle!

The best way to get a puppy is to beg for a baby brother– and they’ll settle for a puppy every time.” -Winston Pendleton

Spring is also the time for everything cute and fuzzy. Baby chicks, baby ducks, baby kittens, baby birds, and of course, baby puppies. Puppies! Who doesn’t love a sweet, furry, kiss-giving puppy? They’re adorable, they’re amazing, and they’re astounding. They are all the things that make you laugh, smile, and change your mood from bad to good in a New York minute. At ARF, it is puppy season times a thousand, with so many little wiggly butts running around, and volunteers trying to keep up. I used to love visiting the puppy yard, because hanging out there with lots of sweet little faces jumping in your lap was the best. However, getting the puppies out in the morning was never my favorite. It required a strong constitution, and the ability to hold your breath for long periods of time. Let’s face it, puppies are exactly like human babies; all they do is eat, cry, and poop 24 hours a day. It’s a lot. It requires latex gloves, lots of newspaper, and the ability to keep your breakfast down. Is it smelly? No doubt. Is it worth it? You bet. Are some volunteers better at it than others? Absolutely. A new puppy is exactly what every little kid is yearning for, and definitely at the top of their Christmas list. C’mon Santa, make my wish come true!

“I wish I lived in your world, where it’s sunshine and puppies all the time.”
? Charlotte Huang

In a perfect world, all puppies would find their furever home, full of love and affection. Unfortunately, that doesn’t always happen. Which is why we volunteers at ARF want to make sure our dogs go to the best home possible, whether it be puppies, seniors, or adults dogs. We are dedicated to ensuring our dogs the most amazing life they deserve, with an owner that is committed to them. For puppies, finding the right person who will be devoted and patient for their new family member is critical. Let’s talk about the puppy puzzle, and why/why not someone might be the perfect missing piece. My mom could tell you a lot about puzzles, because she works on them just about every day. She’s going to be 91 in August, and she has a love/hate relationship with all the crazy shapes she tries to put together. The dementia doesn’t really help a lot, but some old school music does; she’s partial to The Platters and knows every word to each song they have. Now would I get my mother a little puppy? No, I would not. I’ll count down the reasons for you: 1) She’s 91 2) She has a walker 3) It’s hard for her to bend down 4) She can easily trip 5) Sometimes she forgets to feed our dog Don’t get me wrong, I love my mother, but this is the same woman I’ve caught a couple of times putting a knife into the toaster. Would I trust her with a tiny little mutt? Um, no. Because when the Giants are playing, she’s so glued to the TV, she can’t focus on anything else. Puppy? What puppy?

“Puppies are God’s idea of a perfect workout program.” ? Stephen King

I’m just saying a lot of people have good intentions that may not work out. You might think your 80-year old Aunt Gladys is lonely and could use a pet, and you could be right. But how about the right pet? My mom loves our finch, Harry, because he sounds like a typewriter (Google it) in the morning, and is fun to watch as he putters about in his cage. She can easily fill his seed and water dishes, and enjoys his daily chattering. At ARF, we have a lot of repeat adopters, and some are elderly folk. They usually adopt adult dogs instead of puppies, but we’ve had a few who are very experienced with younger dogs. A lot of parents want to adopt a puppy for their children, which isn’t a bad idea, but it’s the timing that matters. Small breed puppies are totally susceptible to broken bones, from possibly being stepped on or jumping off furniture. Kids around 5 or 6 years old are a better age for puppies, because they have better interactive skills and are more patient. Toddlers that are still finding their mobility might be a bit of a danger for pups who are also finding their footing. Remember, puppies are a lot like babies, and you really need to get your home prepared. Make sure cleaning supplies, medications, and sharp objects are in a safe place. Move or cover electrical cords, because there’s nothing that puppies love more than CHEWING. Something very important to remember: be sure your trash cans have secure lids. I can tell you from personal experience, there’s nothing worse than coming home from work and finding last night’s dinner scattered all over the kitchen floor. DUH!

“Mischief in a puppy is a promising sign.” ? Clare Bice

Basic things to remember when buying supplies for your new critter are key, just to make sure they feel comfortable and cozy. A nice crate for a safe space, a softly cushioned bed, food and water bowls, a collar, leash, and of course toys. Whatever you do, don’t forget the puppy pads, they’re great for house and crate training. Whenever ARF does an adoption event, we always take a whole mess of puppy pads. It’s crucial to keep a crate nice and clean, because you don’t want puppies stepping in poop, and you certainly don’t want any to transfer onto your clothes. Yuck. Because the public just can’t resist, puppies get lots of treats at these events. So puppy pads are always within reach for accidents. Because, well, what goes in always comes out! Another thing to remember about adopting a puppy is thinking about your circumstances. Puppies require time, energy and patience. Do you have the time that’s necessary for raising a little one? Because they are busy, busy, little balls of craziness. They are all over the place, under furniture, buried in blankets, and always underfoot. They can also be expensive; during their lifetime, all dogs must be seen by the vet for various reasons. You might want to put aside a little “nest egg” for vet visits, and hopefully, you’ll never need it for anything major. It’s good to be prepared.

“Trying to sell the idea of a new pup to the children was about as difficult as trying to convince them to eat chocolate.” -David Kennard

At Animal Rescue of Fresno, we have all kinds of mixed-breed puppies. We have terriers, Pugs, Chihuahuas, and everything else under the sun. We have scruffy, smooth, feisty, and fearless. The puppy yard is definitely the place to go and mellow out if you’re having a rough day. There’s nothing like a bit of puppy breath on your face to help you let go of your troubles, and just enjoy the moment. Puppies bring a smile to everybody, and they can be a great learning adventure for youngsters. Just remember to think carefully before adopting one. Make sure you have the best environment for a tiny little addition to your family. If everyone is on board, and you have plenty of love and patience, your new pet will live a good long life. And they will definitely enrich yours. All hail Puppy Palooza!

Animal Rescue of Fresno
4545 E Dakota Ave.
Fresno, CA 93726
Website: arf-fresno.com

Check out more animal rescue stories in our Pet Perspective section and check back every month for another animal rescue adventure from ARF. Advertise in KRL and 10% of your advertising fees can go to a local animal rescue. We also have a pet Facebook group for KRL and we would love to have you join!

Wendy Hunter has been volunteering with ARF since 2014. She grew up in Fresno and has been an Office Assistant with Fresno County for 7 years. She has been writing all of her life, though never professionally, and currently writes personalized poetry for birthdays, weddings, pet remembrances, etc.