Rescue Me! Friday: Rocket Ranger

Rocket Ranger (Ranger for short) launched herself into the world of Clean Slate Animal Rescue in no uncertain terms, one hot summer evening. While I was doing the dishes in the kitchen, I saw a shadowy furball bounce past the window - once, twice, and one more time. Naturally, I was unnerved - Clean Slate is out in the country, and I was new to the area. What kind of creature (Sasquatch? The Chupacabra?) could possibly be bouncing past my window at nearly midnight in rural Kentucky? The next moment my question was answered, because the creature in question managed to get a foothold in the windowsill and scrabbled inside.

And there before me was Rocket Ranger - the cutest little black pup you've ever seen. She wore a red collar so was clearly owned, and we estimated her age to be about six months at the time - that was about six months ago. Though signs were posted at the local animal shelter and the neighboring area, this sweet little girl was never claimed by her owners. At about one year, "Rocket Ranger" is an active, energized, cuddly little fur ball who weighs approximately thirty-five pounds. She loves other dogs, is very smart, and I believe would be an excellent candidate for agility training. She gets along well with everyone she meets, and would also make a good family dog for pup-savvy children. If you have a secure area (Ranger is definitely a little escape artist!) and are looking for an energized pup to keep up with your active lifestyle, Ranger is definitely the girl for you.

Though Ranger is currently in a rescue in Kentucky, please don't hesitate to express interest if you aren't living in Kentucky. Transports can be arranged, and - because the plight for homeless animals in the south is so dire - Clean Slate is doing everything it can to get these amazing guys and girls to a more rescue-friendly environment. The rescue is currently limiting adoption possibilities to the central and northeastern states, from Pennsylvania all the way up the coast to Maine.

Ranger will need continued obedience training to reach her full potential, and - because she has been living in a shelter situation for some time - will need a refresher on house-training and potty etiquette. If you're interested in this sweet girl, you can contact Clean Slate Animal Rescue directly at (270) 378-4736 or go to their website, www.cleanslateanimalrescue.com, or simply e-mail me at TheDog_Ma@yahoo.com for more information.