Overcoming obstacles

I often refer to children, like cats, as being obstacles to adoption. A lot of dogs are given up because people have children and they think the dog is going to hurt their baby. In most cases, they just don't have the time or committment to give to both the dog and the child. Consequently, I don't waste a lot of breath or keystrokes talking or writing to people with small children.

The Moses myth notwithstanding, rules should not be carved in stone, and mine certainly are not.

The real obstacle to a successful adoption of course is not the child or the dog, it's the people. People that we call "dog people" can and do make it work. Duke's new home is a case in point. They have a two year old child and the one shown here, just a few weeks old. Even I thought they were a little crazy wanting another dog right now, but I went to their home and they convinced me that they are serious dog people. They aren't stupid or negligent. They have a crate, baby gates, a fenced yard, and common sense. That last element is the most essential ingredient to any successful adoption.