Patch Pet of the Month: Meet Harry

When you enter the kennels, the first dog you will see is Harry...givin' em hell.

He and his roommates are hungry for attention and vying for some precious one-on-one outside on the grass and in the sunshine, so his first impression may not be his best.

Once Harry gets outside he is a totally different dog—full of curiosity, delightfully happy and very loving. Harry came from a high-kill shelter where his name rose to the top of the euthanasia list twice. A volunteer stepped in and tried to adopt Harry, but with his youthful energy, Harry was not a good match for her senior dog.

Once again, he was slated for euthanasia and the same volunteer put out a desperate plea to other rescues and Angel Ridge stepped in to take him.

With his gleaming white teeth, Harry is no more than 3 years old. He also appears to be housebroken. He has the looks and waddle-type gait characteristic of most Labrador retrievers, though he more closely resembles the stouter English version.

Harry is an instant charmer—at ease with most everyone, ready to "sit" on command followed by a slightly slower "down." Once you have him there, it is mere seconds before he rolls over, belly to the sun, wrists on either side of his face and eyes closed in utter joy at the anticipation of a thorough belly scratch. 

In his relatively brief stay at Angel Ridge he has been friendly with a few of the other dogs, even serving as temporary "foster dog father" in the same kennel with a couple of young pups. Harry has lurched at some of the free-roaming cats, but that does not mean he could not live with one if introduced properly.

Anyone looking for a friendly, well-adjusted Lab should check out Harry.

Harry is an adoptable dog from Angel Ridge Animal Rescue, 390 Old Hickory Ridge Road, Washington, PA 15347, 724-229-7053, http://www.angelridgeanimalrescue.org/