Winter pics: Charlie, the "used" pet

This is a great story from Charlie's owner, John, who lives in Rancho Palos Verdes.

First, Charlie's Halloween picture:

His story:

Here is a true holiday story.
 
'Charlie' is a rescue dog from the Carson Animal Shelter.  He was rescued by 'Used Pets' on the day he was to be put to sleep.  After spending three months in a 'Used Pets' group home, we found Charlie at the Rolling Hills Street Fair.  He looked pathetic.  He was under weight, scruffy, and  was afraid of people. You could feel his spine when you pet him.  We felt sorry for him, so we decided to adopt him.
 
On the first day he bit me. He ran away three times and he wouldn't come to me for the first six weeks.  We had to be very patient. We spent a lot of time getting him untrained and retrained. 
 
He has been with us for six months now and is a completely different dog.  He is much calmer.  Now, he sleeps in my lap.  He is very well cared for.  He gets a lot of 'pack' time. Everyday he gets groomed, massaged and goes for a two mile walk. He has plush clean bedding in a nice new doghouse that he loves. He also eats well and is no longer under weight.
 
Our reward is the cheap entertainment. He loves his pack and will do anything for a treat. 

The outfit thing happened by chance.  After a bath we left the drying towel on his head and he didn't care.  He sat there while we laughed.  So, naturally our thought was, what else would Charlie wear?  Dog outfits are $5 in party stores and Charlie actually likes to dress up! Charlie is a real clown.  Now Charlie and I even howl together.  LOL!  Charlie has been the bright spot in a very difficult year.  He rewards us daily. 
 
Unfortunately, over four million dogs are put to sleep every year.  So if you are going to get a dog, please consider getting a rescue dog!  You too will reap the rewards daily.         
 
Have a Merry Christmas and a wonderful holiday season.

Thanks, John -- that's a great story and a wonderful reminder of how special rescue dogs can be. What a great home he has.

And what a cutie. I guess this could be a Dickens hat of some kind, right?

But this next shot definitely has a Christmas feel about it: the exhaustion we all experience after the shopping and decorating and card writing are done.