Darrell and I dropped off part of the "Convention Piggy Bank" savings to the Lied Animal Shelter in Las Vegas last week during the convention. I did not go into adoption part of the shelter, knowing that I would not be able to leave empty-handed and the Riviera would probably be very non-understanding about a pet in the room.
We went back to Vegas this past Thur/Fri/Sat for the Great West Truck Show at the convention center and had a great time!
We got a great deal on our room at Bally's and I made a silent plan to save as much spending money as possible in order to return Saturday to the animal shelter.
Sure enough, on Saturday we checked out of Bally's ($135 richer than when we arrived thanks to Video Poker) and headed for the shelter.
Wow, the LV newspaper articles do not do justice to the amount of animals that are crammed into the facility due to forclosures and loss of employment!
Every cage was full and many cages had several smaller animals in them. Everyone seemed to want the puppies and pure bred dogs. Darrell and I noticed an amazing amount of Chihuahuas and small dogs.
We wandered from building to building until I opened one building door and there she was! A happily wiggily Chihuahua jumping up against the glass door, pleading "pick me, pick me!". Hummm, she was licking our hands like crazy through the cage wire and very friendly...so far so good.....a female chihuahua....still good....uh,oh....she's 8 years old and found as a stray....what gives here? Why would anyone give her up?
After some discussion with a volunteer, we spent some time with the little girl and fell in love with her. Turns out her owners moved and abandoned her on the street to hopefully find herself a new home. Thank god, animal control found her on June 19th (during the convention in 109 degree heat) near the 515 and Decatur unharmed.
For 4 days no one called to claim her and for the next 5 days, no one wanted to adopt her. It was her "last day" when we found her.
Here's the really sad part, the cost of an average age dog or puppy at the shelter is $155 (people were lined up to look at the puppies) and Ginger, due to her "senior age" was a whopping $20! The volunteer laughed when I handed him the $155 for the payment due and he informed me that she was a "major discount" because of her age!
We got her home (she slept all the way back to Utah) and she is loving every moment in her new home. Even big sister Lacie has been extra kind to her and happily shares her doggie toy box.
Ginger seems to be happiest playing on the grass in the back yard (we think she never have a back yard with grass).

So meet Ginger, she's not the prettiest dog around, but sure has a big heart!