A Dog's Tale

Shannon Harris already owned two dogs.

He was a pet lover, especially dogs, and he had a special bond with his dogs.

So what to do when the downstairs renters abandoned three dogs when they moved out.

Harris had no clue what to do.

So he kept the dogs, including a pit bull, a Rottweiler mix and another mix.

“They are good dogs, so gentle and sociable,” Harris said.

No a bad bone in the bunch, no real threat to anybody, just dogs who it could be said were victims of a tough economy and a county job market that is somewhat barren at this time.

For eight or nine months Harris kept those dogs, the animals awaiting his return from work each day at the Piggly Wiggly.

“I care a lot about those dogs,” Harris said. “They greeted me at the door for eight or nine months.

“I became attached to them”

For example, Eddie, a bulldog has some to reach to shake hands whenever someone swoops in for a pet.

The puppy, Hallie, is a bundle of energy and joy, just happy to be alive and willing to show it for the right touch, the friendly eyes and smell.

One problem – dogs eat. A lot in the case of a 40-pound Rottweiler mix.

The dogs were on the verge of eating Harris into bankruptcy until he decided he could no longer care for them, no matter how badly he wanted to, no matter how strong the bond for these dogs.

So Harris came up with a quite novel way of getting these dogs into a good home.

Actually, one already was in a good home having been adopted by Harris, giving the dog lover a three of a kind.

What, however, to do with the other two dogs?

Harris figured the best way would be to make it as easy as possible on any potential adopter.

He contacted the St. Joseph Bay Humane Society where the dogs are currently being kept and cared for.

Shannon drops by for a visit or two.

He has also put his wallet where is heart is by agreeing to pay for the basic requirements of adopting a dog.

Harris will pay the adoption fees, will pay for any spay or neutering and all the shots for anybody who will just give the dogs a good home.

“They are all ready to be picked up,” Harris said. “An owner doesn’t have to do a thing. I just want them to have good homes and not have to be put down.

“These are great dogs. Friendly, great dogs.”

No need to think about taking both dogs, Harris said of any potential owner; just adopt one and hopefully the other will find a home.

The focus for Harris is simple: if he can’t care for the dogs he wants to make sure they find a good home where people will love and care for them the way Harris has cared for them for nearly a year.

He does not think the dog’s should pay the price of people experiencing tough times, believes there is the right owner and right home out there for both dogs and just wants to do everything in his power to ensure they are cared for.

There remains an attachment there, and that umbilical is one that drives Harris in his search for a new home for these dogs that were virtual strangers to him just months ago.

And that attachment drives his quest.

For anybody interested in adopting either Eddie or Hallie contact the St. Joseph Bay Humane Society at 227-1103.

The cost is a kind and open heart.

Harris has taken care of the rest.