by Sarah Warburton

After losing our beloved Golden Retriever, Maggie, to cancer, could we ever love another dog again? At the Fort Bend “Hunting for Homes” adoption event, a volunteer heard I was looking for a “two-year-old lab mix” and brought Daisy over to meet me. She climbed on my lap and buried her head under my arm…and I fell for her!

She was housebroken and crate-trained and extremely loving…but the kids started calling her “crazy Daisy.” My vet, Dr. Cox at the Sugar Creek Animal Clinic, said she was actually a one-year-old hound mix…practically a puppy! She chews our shoes, the edges of our table, Legos, and the carpet. She destroyed her bed, shredded the window screens, and dug up two sprinkler heads. Walking the kids to school, she’s always lunging at imaginary squirrels, trying to run up trees, or pouncing children.

When I took her to Lone Star Pet Lodges for holiday boarding, I discovered their General Manager, Diana Rushing, was the volunteer who’d introduced me to Daisy! Lone Star Pet Lodges offers boarding, grooming and training…and I started to hope: Could they find the “good dog” inside the sweet dog we rescued?

Walter Darr says, “My wife, Lara, and I founded Lone Star Pet Lodges to offer full-service dog and cat, small mammal, small reptile and bird Lodging, Grooming, Training, Transportation and Day Care services. We offer three options for your training…Lodge & Learn Training, Day Care & Learn Training, or 6-week Private Lessons. During Daisy’s assessment I could tell she was responsive, treat-motivated, and extremely loving. With our positive and professional training, Daisy can become as well-behaved as she is sweet-natured.”

Each year, millions of stray animals are euthanized at shelters throughout the country. In Texas, around 100,000 cats and dogs are put down each year. Walter coordinates with the Sugar Land Animal Service’s Adoption program, so he’s seen firsthand how behavior problems can make it hard for a dog to keep its “forever home.” He says, “I love my own labs. They even help me train and socialize other dogs! That’s possible because of the training I’ve given them. Our proven training programs will provide Daisy and her family with all the tools to be fabulously successful and have a happy (not crazy!) pet home life. A well-trained dog is more engaged, more relaxed, and more pleasant!”

Will Walter teach me and Daisy the manners she needs to live in a house? We’ll have an update in our next issue!

Lone Star Pet Lodges
Quality Lodging, DayCare, Training and Grooming
281-403-7700
Missouri City, TX 77459
www.LoneStarPetLodges.com