Ruff Life Turned Upside Down

Adopting animals has always been in my wheelhouse.

I am going to share the story of Sullivan (also known as Binnie Boy), Teddy Long Arm, Charlieroo, Trixie, Gus Gus, and Clover.

My family started adopting animals when I was about 10.

Trixie. A little wiener dog with no bottom jaw who wore a diaper and a baby onesie everywhere she went. She was quite the wreck, but we loved her (of course). Trixie sadly passed after being hit by a bus when a woman tried to steal her. She had quite a long life with us after adoption and loved every (soft) treat.

Teddy Long Arm. A huge white cat that should be around 20 years old. You're probably wondering why we call him that. When we adopted him at The Denver Dumb Friends League, they put him into a paper box to travel safely. He shoved his one longer arm through the hole in the box and rode like that the whole way home. He is now going blind but every spring he perks back up and travels outside to lay in the sun all day long.

Clover. My very first lop-eared bunny. She was rescued from The Denver Dumb Friends League and this is just the very start of the bunny mantra. We rescued about 15 meat rabbits after clover and they lived amazing lives in their bunny mansion until we found awesome homes for each one of them. Clover passed but instilled in me that I must adopt another lop-eared bunny at some point.

Gus Gus. Named after the chunky mouse in Cinderella, this fluffy Maltese also had no bottom jaw, and at the very end of his life needed to be carried around in a diaper. He passed, but at the same time, we rescued Charlieroo.

Charlieroo. Adopted as a puppy, this miniature terrier has cataracts and anxiety and for the most part, sleeps under the couch. She is four years old at this point and just enjoys being away from all of the noise.

Sullabinnies. Binnie Boy. Sullivan. This little poodle is my soul dog. I rescued him all by myself in the Winter of 2021. By rescue I mean I had to convince the Denver Dumb Friends League that he had already met my whole family, which he had not. Nonetheless, Sully DOES have his bottom jaw and has only two top teeth, hence why we call him Sully (from Monsters Inc.). Sully is a little bundle of chaos. His legs are too short to go for long walks so he is carried most of the time, and I think he loves that better than actually walking.

Adoption would not have been possible without places such as The Denver Dumb Friends League. These little lives that come into our homes would not be here today if it were not for no-kill shelters and rescues. I encourage each one of you, that the next time that you are thinking about getting a puppy, look at shelters first. They are capable of being loved too!