There's a lot I don't know about my dogs. Their actual birthdays, for instance. Or what they looked like when they were puppies. Or even what combination of breeds produced the fantastic fuzzy mutts that make up my family.

Our first rescue dog was a border collie mix named Chelsea. Gina and I had her for more than 10 years and she was a daily joy. But she was absolutely terrified of fireworks. So, every year for more than 10 years, Gina and I skipped Fourth of July festivities, stayed home, turned up the volume on the television, and tried to distract her from the noises that scared her so. We never really knew why she was so afraid of fireworks; we just tried to make her least-favorite holiday as bearable as possible.

A few days before Chelsea died, our vet did a full-body x-ray, trying to diagnose what was making her so sick. He showed me the x-ray and, against the dark shadow of her body, I could see a dozen or so small, bright white lights. I asked him what they were.

Buckshot, he said. Some time before I ever met her, someone had shot her.

I had this loving and sweet dog for more than 10 years and wondered every fourth of July about the mystery of why she was so afraid of loud noises. It was no mystery to her though; she had a really good reason.

Each of the three dogs we've had since Chelsea have had their own mysteries. I've come to accept that I'll never know why Cotton's owners gave him up at the age of four. Or why Junior's owners thought that going on spring break and not being able to find a dog sitter was enough reason to get rid of him. Or how long Steel dragged around the trap that was clamped onto his hind leg before some kind soul called the Kentucky Humane Society to come and save his life.

The older I get and the more I'm around shelter dogs, the easier it is for me to focus less on what I don't know (inconsequential stuff like birthdays, breeds and previous owners) and more on what's really important. And what's really important is that every time I look at the face of one of these sweet animals, I see in their eyes the love and thanks they have for the people who give them happy, safe homes.

And really, that's all I need to know.

If you've never had the joy of owning a shelter dog or cat, I highly recommend it. You may find that there are things you don't know about your new pet. But what you'll know from the first moment you take your new best friend home is this: you are loved unconditionally, and there's no better feeling in the world.

And really, that's all you need to know.

Rick Maynard
KHS Board Member