Barry P (07-26-2014), Berna (07-25-2014), Maxx&Emma (07-24-2014), MikeLynn (07-25-2014), MontananDakota (07-25-2014)
To me the ONLY thing that helps me through the really tough times is my dog.
Barry P (07-26-2014), Berna (07-25-2014), Maxx&Emma (07-24-2014), MikeLynn (07-25-2014), MontananDakota (07-25-2014)
How much room does an 8-year-old Lab need? I think either you are trying to humanize your dog or there's another reason for this. I can tell you that your poor dog, who has only known you as her family for 8 years, will not be better off scared, confused and stressed in another home or rescue situation. Maybe there's something going on in your life that you don't want to post on a public forum, but when you say it's because she's left alone too much and you don't have room anymore, that gets some people's backs up, including mine. I would have to be in a pretty bad place to even consider rehoming my dogs, and believe me, my life hasn't been all sunshine and rainbows either. I've had some financial setbacks, I think just about everyone has. But you make some sacrifices and you get through it as best you can. If your reason really is due to space and being gone too much, those are not acceptable reasons to rehome a dog IMO because they are misguided. Your dog doesn't need an acre of land to run on to be happy and she only cares that you come home at the end of the day.
Berna (07-25-2014), csblabmom (07-28-2014), emma_Dad (07-24-2014), Maxx&Emma (07-24-2014), MontananDakota (07-25-2014)
guys sometimes rehoming is for the best. If they have had trouble paying for vet care and the dog is alone 12 hours a day, maybe they could be happier in another home wtih more time and ability to cover all required vetting. Does it suck? absolutely. But if they can't afford all her vetting they probably can't afford a dog walker (unless they can find someone for "free" but I know I sure haven't found anyone willing to help me for free).
I DO highly recommend networking her as much as you can with a rescue and if you can find a low cost spay clinic to spay her as there are dangers in rehoming an intact pure bred lab if a rescue can't help.
Ivy
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Charlotte K. (07-26-2014), EmmaJo11 (07-26-2014), happy_blackbird (01-15-2015), kimbersmom (07-25-2014), Labradorks (07-25-2014), MontananDakota (07-25-2014), OHfemail (07-25-2014), POPTOP (07-25-2014), Two Barking Dogs (08-03-2014)
true points & also this: its apparent that she doesn't want to keep her. She should be in a home where she is *wanted*. So sad. I wish all dogs had homes with ppl that love them back.
While I would rather eat Ramen so that my dogs could eat dog food, and I would never ever never give them away for any reason....we do need to remember that dogs are pretty adaptable. As long as there is no extenuating circumstances, a well adjusted dog should be able to go into a new loving family's home and thrive. And if these folks insist they need to get rid of the dog, the dog is probably better off with a different family anyway. It's not the same like our spoiled dogs.
Jen
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Labradorks (07-25-2014)
Absolutely! I ment to mention this as well. I have seen lots of dogs come into rescue care (some owner surrenders, some who found their way to pounds before coming to rescue) and the REALLY do adapt. Some very quickly, but even the stressed ones bounce back within a reasonable amount of time. As much as we all hate to admit it, dogs are adaptable and as long as they were in a good home, most of our dogs would just keep living happily (after a brief period of confusion). I have no doubts that dispite all I do for my two they would adapt to a new home (here I assume a good dog loving home) pretty darn quickly.
Ivy
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Just to support the notion that sometimes re-homing is necessary and the dog benefits; that's how my neighbour got his Lucy, a dog we really like. The owner died and his daughter took the dog and did her best but she had a family situation going on in a town a four hour one way drive from her home. As Tanya suggests she networked and found a marvellous home through the boarding kennel the dog was staying in every weekend. The same boarding kennel my neighbour had used till his last dog died of old age. It's worked out really, really well for all parties.
OHfemail (07-26-2014)
I foster for rescue as well, have for the last 10 years, and yes, most dogs do adapt eventually. But it's not always a smooth transition and it's especially harder the older the dog is. I fostered a dog about a year ago who was an owner surrender. He came to my home directly from his previous owners, he was never even in a shelter. For about a week, I was actually concerned that he might die because he was so sad and stressed at losing his family. He refused all food and had bloody diarrhea for almost 2 weeks. He had just seen a vet one week before he was surrendered, so we knew he wasn't sick. That's just what the stress did to him. I expect some degree of stress for the first few days from any new foster dog, but this was extreme, the worst I've ever seen. And this dog was only 3 years old, not 8.
We don't know what this person means by not being able to afford medical care. Was the dog sick or did she just need an annual exam? There's a difference. I'm not saying no dog should ever be rehomed, sometimes it is for the best. I felt the need to give the OP a reality check, because I swear, some people really believe that a dog is better off with a fenced yard, or a big house, or whatever and that's simply not true. And if it helps this dog keep the only home she's ever known, then that's not necessarily a bad thing.
Maxx&Emma (07-25-2014)
Perhaps the next time someone like this comes on the board searching for help, perhaps some should try to hold there tongue. Now this OP isn't going to return. There is a wealth of information and help that could have been given to this OP.
I understand none of us agree with the OP, I certainly do not find the excuses to be valid, but it really should be all about the dog, am I not correct? Now no one can help
arentspowell (07-25-2014), EmmaJo11 (07-26-2014), Labradorks (07-26-2014), Maxx&Emma (07-26-2014), MikeLynn (07-25-2014), OHfemail (07-26-2014), Snowco Labradors (08-03-2014), Tanya (07-25-2014), Two Barking Dogs (08-03-2014)
You are right Zoeysmom, my only thought was for how the dog would feel. I can't imagine doing this to MY dogs, perhaps it is best for some but not for every dog. I just could never do it myself. It is a really difficult situation to be in I am sure. I feel awful that the way I feel could possibly have chased this family away. I can't help the way that I feel but just maybe rehoming is the right thing sometimes. It is is just I fear that many dogs may have the reaction described above by 3chocomom and those thoughts/reactions are heartbreaking to me. With the reasons and description given by OP my reaction was from my heart, be it right or wrong. It is a very difficult situation all the way around. Hard for the owner and heartbreaking for those of us that find the situation difficult to understand. I am not sure there is any cut and dried correct way to respond in this situation and I know that my own emotions often get in my way. Must dogs are my life and always will be.
Last edited by Maxx&Emma; 07-26-2014 at 03:11 AM.
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Tammy
Maxx and Emma Jean
Ozzy - 10/2002 - 06/2011 - Rest well my sweet boy. You are forever remembered, forever missed, forever in my heart.
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