This is my happy dog face.

Older dogs may not be able to chase birds at the beach anymore. Napping may be a higher priority than digging in the garden for an old bone. Chilling out at home is more fun than long road trips.

Pleasure can be simply catching some new and savory smells from a neighbor's grill...like I am right now. Click and watch five seconds of how a senior dog rolls...

As an older dog, I love hanging out with my family more than ever!

As a shelter dog, Cleo has possessiveness issues. This dog is bossy and pushy. This German Shepherd-Siberian Husky mix sheds a lot.

Labels. Negative labels for a large rescue dog in need of a forever home. If people involved with pet adoption believed those labels without getting to know me, I would have been euthanized years ago.

Fast forward five years - my pack will be devastated when it is my time to pass over the rainbow bridge. They chose to cherish and enjoy my individuality. When they look at me they see:

Sheds a lot = brushing parties

Bossy and pushy = interested and engaged

Possessiveness = protective and loving

People like to put labels on everything, including dogs. Labels supposedly make it “easier” to judge read jars, people and pets from a distance. I'm here today because there are people who understand this is wrong.  There are people who love you just the way you are!!

Here is a video from Judy and Surf Dog Ricochet that does an even better job showing you what I’m trying to say.