"Rex is a sweet husky mix. He is not quite confident in the shelter yet. He was surrendered as a stray. He is a little shy and concerned. He can be fearful and submissive in new situations. He plays well with other dogs but he is afraid of cats. He loves the outdoors and could be kenneled outside. He is usually quite calm and quiet, though he has been known to give a husky howl. He would do best with a fenced yard, and regular exercise. He would do well with one owner or a family with teenage children and he would like to be the only dog in the family. His coat is medium smooth and would not need much more than a brushing every week."

Everything about Rex's bio is admirable except the part about being made to live a life of mostly isolation in an outdoor kennel. All dogs are pack animals and they suffer most from isolation. On the canine "what makes life worth living" scale there is only one item - not being alone.

A dog would rather be matted, hungry, yelled at, even beaten, than alone.

Why can't Rex be full-time part of a family like all his canine instincts crave?

What kind of person can ignore the cries of a lonely animal begging to be allowed in to join the family circle that it is being excluded from? Not a person who should have a dog.

Jennifer Dickson
Okanagan Animal Welfare Foundation