Issue link: http://maconmagazine.uberflip.com/i/397324
G rowing up in the country, our house was the perfect distance from town - for people to drop o their unwanted animals. at and the fact my mother felt compelled to feed anything with two or four feet and a pulse meant we always had animals, lots of animals. From the ordinary – various dogs and cats – to the unusual – a ying squirrel and a baby fox. My childhood made me unable to resist strays. Now, married to another even more fervent animal lover, our house is home to two dogs and a cat. Get a life Two came from the local pound: the dog was about 8 weeks old when we adopted her. e cat, well, we're not too sure how old he is. He was turned over to the pound after his owner passed away. e other dog came from a rescue group. We gure she was 6 or 8 when we got her. And if you've ever been to our house, you know the dogs and cat are front and center. e cat has an odd habit of licking certain people's heads. e dogs are pretty docile until the doorbell rings, then it's a version of the dog-barking apocalypse. But they're all three wonderful pets. All that's to say, we have animals other people didn't want, and I can't imagine life without them. e dogs are two of the best- mannered, sweetest animals you'd ever want. Roxie, who came from the pound, has an almost uncanny ability at non-verbal communication. She can let you know precisely what she wants or needs. Kimber, who wound up in a foster home after living through some period of terrible abuse, loves everybody and everything. Pictured to the left is another dog nobody wanted. Libby was picked up as a stray. Because she was heartworm postive, she was often overlooked. When the shelter was forced to close, they held an adoption drive and successfully adopted out all of the pets ... except for Libby. When she was set to be euthanized, Kyle Massey decided to foster her. She was so scared that she wouldn't walk out on a leash, so Kyle carried her. She has never forgotten. Libby treats everyone like she can't believe she is getting to meet them. She is just so happy to be alive. And she thanks her family for that every day with her loyalty and gentleness. Libby might not have been the dog that Kyle wanted, but she was the dog he needed. ree years later, it is safe to say that Libby was a foster failure. And heartworm negative! If you want a purebred or designer dog or cat, more power to you. But if you're ever in the market for a dog or cat, there are thousands that are waiting for homes. e lucky ones nd their way to no-kill shelters or foster homes. e others are killed because there's no room at the inn, so to speak. Go to page 20 and you'll nd a few dogs up for adoption. If you do adopt one of those animals nobody else wanted, you'll nd more than a pet. You'll nd a friend for life. And they're all just happy to be here. Editorial by James Palmer & Erika Burks photography by Maryann Bates