The little dog from my recent post was adopted soon after I handed over his portrait to TEARS (The Emma Animal Rescue Society). He looks as though he will be very loved, he even has a new Jack Russell brother.
The painting naturally went to his new family and the Christmas box I gave to TEARS was also sent home with him.
It is so good to see dogs finding homes at this time. So many dogs fill our animal shelters over December. I am not sure if this is because people buy puppies as presents or out of holiday-induced excitement, without considering the long term costs. In South Africa, the Christmas and end-of-year events, and long school summer holidays all collide in December and January. Illegal breeders may try and make some extra money, knowing that people have their annual bonuses, by selling puppies and abandoning those that are not taken. Perhaps some dogs just go missing amidst all of the end-of-year activities. This is all just speculation and while it is important to reduce the number of strays admitted to shelters, I am still so pleased to see the ones that are adopted by people who are going to give them a level of care that many of these dogs won't have experienced before.