Mr. Boz

He's not much of a talker. He can't read. He slobbers when he eats, he snores and oh god, does he have gas. But he comes when I call, he loves me more than he loves any other woman and when I gaze into his big, brown eyes I love him right back.

Here's one of the first pictures we took of Boz, when he first came from Boxer Rescue to live with us. Look at that lean, mean, fightin' machine! But of course Boz is no fighter. He's a lover to his core.

Boz was shy at first, just trying to figure out where he fit in the pack. But gradually he came out of his shell. He's a great communicator with a distinctive personality and a vast array of emotions. I had no idea how much I was going to love him. It amazes me how deeply we've bonded with him and how naturally his presence transformed a couple into a family.

I'm posting photos of Boz today to encourage you to read Giving Thanks for Animal Rescue by Karin Bugge at Altadena Patch, where bloggers local and worldwide pitched in words and photos of their adopted darlings. I also hope you'll adopt a pet if you're looking; as was mentioned in the discussion at Patch, you can find any kind of dog at local rescue shelters--purebred, mix, adult or puppy. Start at petfinder.com. There's no need to perpetuate puppy mills when these wonderful animals are already available.

It's been seven and a half years since Boz came to us from the shelter. The neighborhood kids know him; sometimes they ring our doorbell to ask if he can come out and play. He's a fun guy with a great personality, still learning new tricks, the dog of my dreams.

He's growing old now and I treasure every moment with him because I know he won't always be here. I often tell him, "I love you." He knows what it means. It means he's a good boy.