MAR- Mercer Animal Rescue & Sanctuary

27/04/2025

Yay!!

26/04/2025

26/04/2025

Wow…..🤣🐶

26/04/2025

So true 🐶🧡

If you are going to have a dog, you are going to have to make sacrifices. You cannot expect to have an animal that was designed to live primarily outside and bring it into your house and not have to make changes or adjustments. A dog is not an ornament, a commodity or a display. A dog is an animal. You are sharing your life with another species. This is life with a dog.

Your yard will not be pristine. The grass will get burned from their p*e. Holes will be dug, bushes shredded, mud will come in the house. You cannot ask them to not p*e in your house and then also try to control even their outside bathroom. Please see how unfair this is. This is life with a dog.

You house will need management. Your counters will need to be clear. Shoes will need to be put away. Laundry room blocked. Kids toys picked up. Some things will get destroyed anyway. This is life with a dog.

They will bark at noises. They will protect their territory. Sometimes fiercely. They will not welcome strange people into the home easily even if you “know them” because this is in their genetic DNA. They don’t understand family gatherings and they don’t always see things the way we do. They won’t love playing with every dog they meet. This is life with a dog.

They will need enrichment and work and productivity. They will need training that is kind and fair and consistent and then maintenance to maintain that training. They will need guidance and coaching and lots of reinforcement to help them perform unnatural behaviors against their natural phenotypes. This is life with a dog.

They will mature and change and modify in their likes, behaviors and preferences as they age. Their behaviors aren’t guaranteed. They are not robots and they can be mercurial as they grow into their own personalities. They are allowed to change their mind and shift naturally just as we do. They need to be seen for what and who they are, not what and who YOU want. This is life with a dog.

Life with a dog is not a human right. It is a privilege and a responsibility and an education. They are animals and should be treated and expected to behave as such. That doesn’t make them any less loved or family members and it doesn’t make them any less deserving of respect, in fact it makes them more so.

Enjoy your life with a dog, and help them enjoy life with a human.

- Helen St. Pierre

25/04/2025

Willow 💚🩵💚
6 months, 40 lbs
low shedding
very friendly
Spayed, microchipped
UTD on everything

Available for adoption in the northeast & Chicago
Active - would love to have an active person

23/04/2025

Rose
3 month Aussie mix
born 1/12/25
mom is a 45 lb Aussie mix
15 lbs
UTD on vaccinations
microchipped

20/04/2025

Louie is in Chicago and looking for his forever family.

1 year old
45 lbs
house trained
loves all dogs
doesn’t bother the cat
neutered
microchipped
HW negative & had Pro-heart shot
Fully vaccinated
Standard poodle (non-shedding)

Sweet, happy, playful boy. Loves everyone. A fenced yard is a must and he would love another dog to a playmate.

19/04/2025

🐾✨ Meet Farris! ✨🐾

Rescued from a Memphis shelter September 2024, Farris was adopted and made his way to Maryland. Unfortunately, things didn’t go as planned, and he returned to our rescue after a tough experience.
None of which was this sweet boys fault.

But the story doesn’t end there! After 7 long months, Farris has finally found his FUREVER home! 🏡❤️

A huge thank you to his amazing foster family for their love and support during this journey. Farris is so lucky to have had you by his side!

Let’s celebrate Farris and all the wonderful animals waiting for their forever families! 🐶💖

18/04/2025

ADOPTED!!
Freddy (aka Fuman)

18/04/2025

Talia
60 lbs
1 year old
Affectionate, happy, loves everyone
Spayed
Microchipped
UTD on everything