My two darling schnauzers died within 4 months of each other.  I swore I would never go through that heartache ever again.  It took one year and two months for me to change my mind.  I scanned the newspapers daily - just looking to see what kind of dogs were for sale.  Not that I was going to buy another dog, just looking. 

On a trip to a local rivertown, my husband and I happened onto a man who was leading six scotties, each on a bright red lead.  The dogs were well groomed and quite well-behaved.  He took us to his shop and in the back were even more scotties.  That clinched it, I was in the market for a scottie.  I called several phone numbers from the newspaper and they were very vague and conspiratorial about  the availability of the scottie for sale.  They wanted me to leave my number and someone would call me back with information about a different scottie.  Sounded like a scam to me so I aborted my plans on buying a dog.

My daughter checked out the internet and found "Flawed Dogs", an adoption group that found homes for not-so-perfect dogs.  They happened to have a schnauzer who was the product of a broken home.   His owners had divorced in an unhappy , bitter manner.  The owner who got custody of the schnauzer, staked him out in the yard with no shelter, water or food where the other person would have to daily pass and see him.  A fight ensued and the judge removed the schnauzer from both people and placed him with Flawed Dogs.  My husband went to see this dog and Frankie jumped in his arms and came home to live with us.  He is affectionate, lovable and a great companion.

Several weeks later we got a call from Flawed Dogs.  They had a scottie.  He was a mill dog and had no socialization skills.  We went to see him, immediately loved him and took Fergus home.  We took him to the groomer and the vet and introduced him to Frankie.  Tootsie, a schnauzer, also came to us from Flawed Dogs.  They had taken her to PETCO on an adoption weekend.  She was an older dog who had been left behind by a family who had to move and could not take her.  Everybody looking at dogs and adopting that weekend wanted puppies or young dogs.  As soon as I picked Tootsie up I knew we were taking her home. 

We added  three more dogs to our family from Flawed Dogs.  Over the years they have given us unconditional love, companionship and lessons in humanity.  They have made us advocates for pet adoptions and crusaders against puppy mills.  I encourage everyone to give love a chance!