Wonderful idea for a column, Karin. You guys are wearing me down. There's definitely a rescue animal somewhere in my future. Pepe got serious consideration, but the time is not yet right.

I have always had dogs and cats and even bunnies in my life. We currently have 2 wonderful dogs & one kitty. Tank, the love of my life, is probably a chow/retriever mutt. He looks like a small Newfoundland with a blue tongue. I knew he would eventually find a home, since they had saved him and his litter of 4 from the pound, but I wanted him to be our dog. He has been ever since I picked up this wriggly black ball of fur & brought him home. After losing his two best pals within a year, Tank (and I) needed a buddy, so we adopted Boone, a retriever/Border Collie mix. He is the love of my husband's life. Here is a 55 pound dog who crawls into my husbands lap every night as he watches tv and sleeps like a baby (he is featured with Tank in your photo section) Rose is our beloved yellow tabby. She picked me. I was at the local shelter and she was hissing at the littler black kittens in her cage, reaching her arms through the bars. I thought "what a mean bitchy kitty." When I took my then 9 year old back, she was the one. She was named after a wonderful James Kellogg book "A Rose for Pinkerton." The three of these awesome creatures live in harmony in my house. Fur of all colors wafts around and I have enough (if I had saved it) to weave sweaters to keep the world warm. I wouldn't have it any other way. Animals make me a better person. When I feel alone, they are always there for company, and a thump thump or swish of a tail to remind me that I am always loved.

I want more pets now!

I love seeing the photos everyone sent in. Lovely beasties, all of them.

This is such a great idea. I hope lots of readers upload photos of their animals, too.

Plus, I always wondered how K's Webster got his name. Now I know.

A few years ago I was diagnosed with lupus and thought my days with canine friends were over. Well, not so. I now have two big Boxers that have filled my life with great joy. Both of them are rescues -- one via PSPCA and the other came through a neighborhood intervention. Through chemo, unbearable fatigue and anything else one can imagine, the big guy and his partner in crime would nudge me with their noses, encouraging me to get up and play pull toy or go out and kick the football around the yard. The two of them have prevented me from engaging in pity parties or bad Shakespearean plays. They saved my life by keeping me up and active and for that I am truly grateful.

It's great to read about people's connections to the animals in their lives. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to share our stories, Karin. They're all so touching. I love your Bru story, too. He's a beauty.
And Tommy's head has grown knowing his mug shot is the featured photo! He's such a ham.
Angela, your story is amazing. I hope you've healed. It sounds like your dogs have helped you to do so.

Leslie, I'm so glad you left your story, because I wanted you to be a part of this. And Judy, wonderful. One of the many things I love about all these stories is that each voice is unique. And do click on the "continued" links -- you won't regret it.

Love stories about animal buddies.

I love how you've put this together, Karin, and I love all these great stories. I hate to sound all sentimental, but I do lurrrrrvvvvee my doggy.

Links? Yes!! East of West LA is FABULOUS!!! For someone who never worked in a darkroom and only came to photography via digital -- ahhh, stunning work. Thank you!!

Precious, precious doggies - each and every one of them!!!

Thanks everyone for attaching photos. Keep them coming!

I was inspired to leave my own photo here. This is my cat Fuzz who came to our door in 2005 with no fur on his back because of flea bites. He is healthy and happy now.

Oh, these added photos are such a wonderful bonus -- Thank you, Judy, Leslie, Dan, Lisa, Kathy.

I love all these stories and photos. My own little dog kept me company while I was recuperating from a major surgery and never demanded more of me during that period than I was able to give.

Wonderful stories and photos, everyone. I just spent the morning taking pictures with Altadena friends who have two rescued dogs. These are the kind of pooches for me.

Oh, I love starting my morning with a good cry. :) But they are happy tears. Such beautiful stories and photos. This is a lovely idea, Karin. Thanks to you and Dan.

Since I moved to Pasadena, I've gotten two dogs at the Pasadena Humane Society; one required, unbeknownst to me, several thousand dollars worth of surgery right out of the gate, and the one who followed him was a sweet little escape artist (another several thousand dollars to replace the fence to hold him in) who was seriously not right in the head. They were both darlings in their own ways, but I don't think I'll be getting another pet from the Pasadena shelter, since I feel like they have either been dishonest about their adoptees' problems or have not taken the time to do a thorough assessment of their suitability for adoption . My current sweetie came to me via a Cocker rescue group and we are a serious mutual admiration society!

Diana, I've never gotten a pet from the Pasadena HS, but I can vouch for Boxer Rescue, where we got Boz. To my knowledge, they do a wonderful job training the dogs and they're careful about sending them out with the right people. There are many other such specific rescue organizations that do a good job.

This brings up the point: you can adopt just about any kind of dog in the Los Angeles area--adult or puppy, mixed breed or pure bred. Example: My friend wanted a purebred Australian Shepherd puppy and almost bought one before I talked him into checking out the shelters first. Sure enough, he found a litter of perfect puppies to choose from.

Good point, Petrea. I once got a Belgian Tervuren, of all the obscure breeds, from the Baldwin Park pound. And many of the breed-specific rescue groups post their dogs at petfinder.com, too.

Oh I hope this just goes on an on. I love reading everyone else's stories. Now off to see more doggy and kitty photos.

That's such a great link, Diana. I'm using it in my post tomorrow.

I got my cat Teddy a year ago from the Pasadena shelter. I saw his photo on their website the day he came in and set my heart on him because he looked like my beloved cat Ginger who died aged 17. But I hesitated for weeks, and each time I visited the shelter, poor Teddy got sicker and more depressed. I hoped against hope someone else would take him as I already had a dog and a rabbit, and my husband thought he looked scraggy and a bit weird. Thank goodness I asked to see Teddy on the day I did - I didn't realize it was his last day, as they needed the cage. They wouldn't even keep him 4 more days until I could get him half price as a "seniors for seniors" deal (when I turned 60). And that was fair enough - I could afford the full price. It included a free visit to the veterinarian of my choice, who told me the poor cat needed urgent tooth work. As a starving stray, he'd got severe gum disease and ....never mind, let's just say that a lot of money later, he had almost all his teeth out and was on the way to becoming a sleek, happy. long-haired red, and the best-behaved and most affectionate cat we've ever had. Teddy sleeps next to me every night and never disturbs my sleep. When we have visitors round, he rolls on the floor for tummy rubs. He doesn't stray, and he never hunts. We love him and he loves us.

Barbara, I love you for that Teddy story. I really do, except now I'm crying.

I just had to check back and read more stories. This is what community news is supposed to be about -- this collaboration is fantastic. I'm so glad to have been a part of it.

Barbara, bless your heart for taking Teddy and what a handsome man he is. I feel the same about Katie. I don't know how much time she had. I believe she had been there a long time. Though the note on her cage didn't say it, I learned she was deaf while doing the paperwork for her adoption. The people who had her prior brought her in and it was probably because they learned this after they got her. I adopted her because I truly believe she chose me that day and I figured she probably knew I was patient because I later learned she had been kept outside on a chain (which explained the deep indentation around her neck), the flies had eaten her ears, she was fearful, lacked confidence and was afraid to come into the house. Well, one year later she is the queen of confidence, she and I are learning sign language, if she's outside she knows to tap the door when she wants in and she is no longer afraid of the television. What a great pal she is. My Bruno's story is too painful to recount. I'll just say I'm glad he's in my life because he now has meat on those ribs and he no longer flinches or feels the need to run away from bad people who don't love him. He gets plenty of loving and he loves putting his front paws across my shoulder just to put his face in my face. Aren't animals wonderful?

Angela, Barbara, Susan, everyone! These are great stories and we are just as lucky as the animals are to have found each other. Angela, we had a similar story with Boz--someone brought him in because he had a birth defect that required surgery, and they didn't want to deal with it. Their loss is our gain. The Boz story is up today.

I left pictures of our Toby today. He has brought a year of joy into our lives after my daughter rescued him from Baldwin Park. He was so heavy that she had to sign a release, but now has lost 33 pounds and is happy and healthy and can run!! What a love!

Ah Leslie, lovely fellow. And Angela, I can't get enough stories about boxers, I really can't. Their gentleness with children, puppies, and small dogs is a thing of beauty.

I've met Bellis's cat, and a happier chappie you've never seen.

Thanks everyone for being a part of group event. It's been very touching, and great great fun.

Oh the Teddy story!!!!! And that Border Collie in the photos with the "last day save" just brought tears to my eyes!!! AUGHHHHH this is the best blog post ever.

Thank you, Karin, for this column. The stories are heartwarming, but only make the sad news Kathy and I received yesterday all the sadder. As she posted on her link to this column (http://mammothlakesdp.blogspot.com/2010/11/three-of-our-greatest-joys-for-which-we.html), our beloved Miss Daisy has not been feeling well. She's 14 and we know her time is short. We took her to the vet yesterday and the doctor didn't like what he saw. He performed exploratory surgery and Daisy has cancer of the liver. We are now struggling with options. Put her down now, or, if she recovers from the surgery, bring her home for what at most will be a couple of months before she relapses. Needless-to-say, we are grief stricken. We rescued Daisy one month after we were married and she has been a huge part of our lives together. She's a Golden Retriever who does not retrieve. She's simply a huge, furry couch potato who wants nothing more than to be with both of us, preferably on a walk, or even better, a car ride. She's the reason we have a 4 door truck.

I know that everyone's dog is the best ever, but I have to disagree. I know better. We've been blessed to have a big, furry fluffy butt of a dog for the past 8 years that has given us far more love and affection than we deserve. As someone said, "we give dogs time, attention and affection when we can, and dogs give us everything they've got in return. It's the best deal mankind ever had."

Isn't that the truth for all us.

Dan, I'm heartbroken for you and Kathy. I know we'll have to make decisions about Boz very soon, and I can't bear the thought. But at the moment my tears are pouring for you, Kathy and Daisy. You are in my thoughts.

Poor Miss Daisy. It's devastating news - they're our children, especially after so many years of love and loyalty. The same happened to us with our beloved Tessa, the dog we brought out from England, whom we'd had since she was a puppy. At the age of 14, she was diagnosed with cancer of the spleen. We let it run its course as she'd reached a good age for a dog and the operations would have been stressful. She never had any pain, and lived a good life, with walks and swims, for many months more, and died peacefully. It's hard to lose such a close and special family member and I got pretty depressed afterward. My regret now is that I didn't get another dog sooner. Once Abby came into my life, I was complete again - but we've never forgotten the amazing collie/labrador cross that was Tessa - one of the smartest dogs in the world. I hope you will have many, many more months with Miss Daisy.

Dan, it's been a tough year for you all around, hasn't it? I'm so sorry to hear about Miss Daisy; I think everyone who has contributed to this string of comments knows exactly what you're going through and wishes they'd never have to be in your shoes again. Alas, dogs just don't live long enough to suit those of us who love them. I know you will do right my Miss Daisy, but it will hurt like hell. My heart goes out to you.

Barbara, I know what you mean, too. My beloved Tervuren, Ranger, died in 1990 (I still remember that you sent me such a sweet card when he passed on, Dan!) and, for the next decade, my heart was broken too badly to even think of adopting another dog. Bad decision, as the dogs who've come into my life since then have enriched it immensely and kept me laughing through some seriously tough times. It was not a good ten-year period, and I will never again be without a fur friend if I have anything to say about it.

More tears from South Pas. Sorry Dan and Kathy. Glad we got to meet Daisy this year. Such a sweet dog.

Thank you all for your kind words and wishes.

I now live 2800 miles away from Altadena, but I'm a faiithful follower of The Patch, because it makes me feel I'm home again. Tonight I remember Emma - a cocker spaniel rescued from Griffith Park Stables - a dog that suffered much at the hands of someone who abused and abandoned her. When I brought her home, she trembled in the far corners of the house for 6 weeks. So great was her separation anxiety, we had to put her in a welded metal cage when we went to work to keep her from hurting herself. But she broke the welds with her teeth and drove the metal rods into the roof of her mouth. Friends and relatives advised us to get rid of her. We hired, then fired a trainer. Finally out of desperation, we secured her on a chain to a pole in the basement to prevent further injury. Again she messed up her mouth by chewing on the metal links. Then we duck-taped the chain and slathered it in Tabasco Sauce. That did the trick. With a system that seemed to work for everyone, Emma began to settle down and after a year was comfortable enough to have the full run of the house and approach us on her own. She lived with us and two other cockers for the next 8 years, certainly the happiest of her life, and the happiest of ours as well. Emma is now forever a part of an Altadena garden and is as much loved now as she was then. Tonight I remember her with all of you. May we this Thanksgiving weekend give thanks for all such wonderful creatures who are here to teach us so much.

I'm so sorry, Dan and Kathy.

I am completely misty eyed and my focus isn't much on this typing, but on the heart wrenching situation with Daisy. I had to do the same thing within months in 2009, when both of our beloved Australian Shepherds, Crockett (he was fine one day and dying the next) and our beautiful Summer girl. She just looked up at me one day when her back legs had given out, and when she could no longer run like the wind, I knew I had to let her go. It took months before I didn't call both of their names to come back inside, when I let Tank out. Whatever happens, I'm with you. My heartstrings are playing a bittersweet tune.

Paul, your tenacity and willingness to try just about anything for Emma certainly speaks highly of you, and the enduring qualities of dogs. I'm so happy that she had those 8 happy years with you.