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Published: Tuesday, Oct. 02, 2012 / Updated: Tuesday, Oct. 02, 2012 02:48 PM

How about making some tails wag?

October is Adopt a-Shelter Pet Month. I have never had anything but a rescued animal in my home. They are faithful, loving and they never let you forget you rescued them.

Here’s a story:

He’d been walking for hours; he was so cold, tired and scared too. But just then his little ears perked up, he heard children laughing. With his last bit of strength the dog followed the sound. He stumbled out from behind a snow drift; a chorus of voices rang out: “a dog!”

One of the children ran back home to tell his mother. She in turn called the no-kill animal shelter. The shelter took him to a warm place, fed him, examined him and discovered this little guy was blind and estimated to be about 10 years old. He had only his nose to lead him home and the snow made it impossible for him to pick up the scent.

In all probability he didn’t have a home to go back to. Tossed out like trash. He had no tags, no micro chip. An ad was put in the local paper but a week later the dog was still at the shelter. There was something special about this old guy, whenever anyone got near him his tail wagged wildly. When they picked him up, he’d melt into the crook of their arm. It was only a few days later when he was adopted by a woman who had lost her poodle to heart failure.

This is a story with a happy ending, but so many are not like this.

We all face challenges and sometimes wonder how we will make it. But picture these poor animals. They have no choice. If you cannot adopt, think about fostering a rescue dog. It will make you feel good.

Everything I know, I learned from my dog. She makes me smile and appreciate my life.

Judy Desmond wrote. “A dog is the only thing that can mend a crack in your broken heart.”