March on, Scotties

It's official: Heather and Mr. K took part in their first Scottie parade! And, they were honored to be asked to take the lead of the Scottish Terrier Club of Greater Atlanta's rescue parade. They did great - until they found an area with treat crumbs on the floor. Then, it was nearly impossible to get them moving again but with time and patience, we finally made it to the end.

Every Scottie that participated in the parade really and truly had a story. I was deeply moved by the tales of struggle, abandonment, neglect and recovery these rescue Scotties had gone through. One Scottie spent three months in the hospital with severe burns that required some sort of skin graft. A few were rescued from puppy mills and other really bad and irresponsible breeding situations. Then there was Moses, a 15-year-old Scottish Terrier who did his very best to finish the short walk. Still others had thousands of dollars worth of necessary veterinary care needed before they could even start their search for a furever home.

As a rescue Scottie Mom, I've learned each Rescue Scottie has their own scars, marks or traits that tell us just how far they have come but more importantly, each has a smile that shows what the power of rescue efforts and a little Scottie love can do. This could not have been any more evident than at the parade itself. By far, the number of rescue Scotties outdid the number of those there to compete in and/or watch the specialty shows. What does that tell us?

First, it tells us that the Scottish Terrier rescue coordination efforts are extraordinary. That foster and rescue Scottie Moms and Dads have done a great job stepping up to the plate and finishing a job someone else started but didn't have the love, resources, patience or ability to see it through. It also tells us that there is a lot of work to be done, educating people on the importance of spaying and neutering our pets, reporting irresponsible breeders that exploit our beloved Scotties and looking out for the best interests of our breed by lending a hand (and home) to a Scottish Terrier in need.

Group photo!

Congratulations to each of the Scotties that marched with Heather and Mr. K on Sunday! You made your Scottie Moms and Dads proud. And, for the new Scottie Moms and Dads that discovered us at the parade, please feel free to take part in our Be Inspired by a Scottie series and submit your pup's tale to thescottiemom(at)gmail(dot)com for consideration on our blog. Also, a big thank you goes out to the Scottish Terrier Club of Greater Atlanta for the rescue Scottie ribbons and goodie bags. I assure you Heather will devour the treats and Mr. K will destroy the toys promptly. Much love, The Scottie Mom.