Adopt, don’t shop, to replace beloved husky

Dear Annie: Our beloved family dog, Dasher, passed away last year. Dasher was a husky. She was the best dog I ever could imagine. Good with the kids and our old kitty. When I contacted the breeder I bought her from, he said that he is no longer breeding. My friend suggested I look at adopting a dog from the local shelter. I really want a husky, and our shelter didn’t have any but suggested I reach out to husky rescue groups. Well, I did, and I found a great one.

After I filled out the application, a volunteer called me. She gave me some very sad statistics about how many dogs get euthanized because of overpopulation. She then said my house will be a tricky place to find the right dog for. Most huskies have a strong prey drive and are not great with cats, small dogs or small children. I was taken aback because Dasher was so great. She said my best bet would be to get a puppy and socialize the dog around kids and cats. She said her rescue group rarely gets pups in. I want to adopt, but I don’t want to put my cat and kids in danger. Do you have any advice? —Adopt or Shop?

Dear Adopt or Shop: Whenever possible, adopt; don’t shop. I understand loving a particular breed and wanting a puppy of that breed. The way I see it, you have three options:

1. Wait until the husky rescue gets a puppy in.

2. Go on Petfinder and search for husky puppies. You may have to travel a bit to find a puppy, or it may not be a purebred husky, but chances are great that you can find a husky puppy. Sometimes mixed breeds are healthier than purebreds.

3. If you do decide to buy a puppy, at least be sure you know where you’re buying from. Kristina Lotz wrote a wonderful article for iHeartDogs titled “10 Signs That A Puppy Is From a Puppy Mill,” and I would recommend it.

Dear Annie: Your column with the letter from widower “Neil” brings back sad memories for me. I lost my mother when I was 13 years old, and it was staggering. I had no siblings and an alcoholic father. Life was a mess. Years later, I attended a seminar, and I learned was how to handle major upsets. Here’s the way to do it. When thinking about an upsetting incident, write down the following questions and your answers: When did it happen? Where did it happen? Who was involved? How did you feel? What happened?

You might want to write the same upset down several times. Just do it. It will work. —Art in Oregon

Dear Art: Writing is a wonderful form of therapy. I second your suggestion. Thanks for it. Send your questions for Annie Lane to dearannie@creators.com. To find out more about Annie Lane and read features by other Creators Syndicate columnists and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at creators.com.