Former foster being returned to rescue

I hear you. Took Mulligan ( who it turns out is a girl) to the vet on Thursday for her first shots and deworming, and his assistant said that over 6000 cats are euthanized every year in our area. In fact the situation is so bad, that they are now spaying/neutering as young as 8 weeks old and no pet is released to a home before it has been fixed. Clearly there are a whole lot of irresponsible pet owners out there. :no:

My appointment was actually delayed because a farmer had showed up about 10 minutes ahead of me with 2 out of 3 feral kittens he had been able to catch. The mother cat showed up sometime in the winter (likely discarded by its owner ) and somehow they managed to survive, momma cat has disappeared. He was getting them wormed and rabies shots and, I hope, fixed. Even so, their prospects are not that great being something around 6 months old ...

I think rescue workers are truly angels - because at times it must be just heartbreaking!
 
JLSOhio51 said:
My comment was fueled by my belief that no matter what, the dog would be better off with a new family than with folks who would choose to give him up (whether their reasoning was good or bad).
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I also agree - returning her to the rescue is probably about as responsible as they are capable of being at this time, whatever their reasons. Anger is only useful to the extent that it fuels action leading to positive change ( if that change is making you feel better then go for it).

Hope I haven't offended anyone - I'm just a pragmatist/realist who also takes the position that people almost always deserve the benefit of the doubt. The situation is what it is - and the question is now how best to provide for this dog, which is exactly what you, Mom2Melli, are doing. For that you are a hero! Just think of all the pets who are better off now because of you and people like you. :hugs
 
Chris said:
That's why we waited 25 years for a dog. Being military, we never knew if we'd get sent somewhere a dog couldn't easily come -- like Korea!! Or Guam! Or Hawaii! :cool:
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DH's parents' only "overseas" assignment was Hawaii (back when it still counted as overseas), moving back and forth was so expensive they just left their vintage MGB in Oahu. DH didn't get a dog until his dad had four years left.

When looking at our next rental, even if it's a gorgeous house with most of our wishlist- no dogs allowed is something we can't live with. Thankfully Olive qualifies as "small animal/dog" so we still have plenty of options.
 
I've seen one too many cases of people ditching dogs because they weren't convenient anymore and that has rather jaded my views on these things. Several of these people should not have had the dog in the first place. They treated it as a household item, not a living creature. One was a situation where the dog had been through two homes and was taken on by a family friend. She never bothered to do any training, hardly walked it. I knew it wouldn't last, before long she was getting rid of the dog, so that would make home number 4 for the poor creature.

Yes, sometimes people have genuine circumstances that mean they have to give up a dog, but far too often it's because people can't be bothered and never should have had the dog in the first place. These people make me angry.
 
First, I'm glad that the family contacted you versus selling the dog. Secondly, I'm glad you're taking the dog back into your crowded home. You are the best!

Now this part isn't going to be as nice. And honestly, I don't make any apologies for it. This is a Sheltie. They do no reequire a ton of food and/or work. Just lots of love. I had Miko since 98. I went through two divorces and at least a dozen moves. I was poor as dirt and still, I fed him first. Even when I had to cook his food, and was broke, he'd get his homecooked diet (for his k/d) before I ate or ate well. I'd eat pb/j day after day so I could afford his food. To me, money was never a problem. Why? Because I can bet you, most people who have children will feed them before they feed themselves, but they won't drop them off at a shelter, will they? But peopld do this with animals because loved or not, they are the most disposable.

Sorry, no excuses. Especially for a Sheltie. They don't eat a ton, so food shouldn't' be expensive. They don't require money except for yearly vaccs/vet visits, assuming they're in good health. Even today, if I'm short on money during a week, I will buy Koji food before I buy myself food because I made the decision to care for him and I will care for him, before I care for myself (no, i won't put myself in a position though, where it'll harm him)

I need to save money right now. i found 3 apts. one is the oldest, on the train tracks, but they don't charge a monthly pet fee nor a carport fee. It's also the cheapest. The second is more per month and charge all those fees. Guess which I'm choosing? it's so I can affrod a puppy, save money for agility again, and basicallly rebuild my savings. I could afford the others, but I won't be able to rebuild my savings.

So, sorry to the person returning the dog, but I just don't see it as an exxcuse. If I hadn't returned Miko nor Koji in the 16 years I've had him/them and been scraping the bottom of the barrell, but could still find housing and ate very little, so he could eat, then yeah, "moving", poor or not is not an excuse.

I'm just so glad you're going to foster her again. Maybe when I'm ready to foste/home older dogs, I can help save all the unwanted dogs...:)

Off my soapbox now. I just don't get people.

And for those that know I rehomed a cat....heatlh reasons are a reason to rehome, esspeciallly if you diidnt know you'd be allergic.
 
My position is that I just wish people valued animals more highly. That's why this story is frustrating . . . and that of the 13-14 year old Lab someone dumped in high-kill even though he was in perfect health and then he shut down so badly he was curled up in a corner to die before the rescue my two dogs came from took him to let him live somewhere happy for however long he has . . . or that of the perfectly behaved military bomb GSD whose handler was killed overseas and the young man's parents dumped her in a kill shelter til a dog trainer stepped in and pulled her literally two hours before she was to be put down (story from the GSD board). Yes, the sheltie's family didn't take her to a shelter or sell her on Craigslist to God knows who or drop her off on the street in a nice part of town (which is what is noted on Melody's intake form which I was given). At least they returned this dog to a safe and kind place.

A society can be judged by how they treat their pets, children, infrim, and elderly. We fail! I am tired of us failing.
 
Sorry - but we don't know all the circumstances involving the move. We cannot judge others so harshly when we do not know the whole story. There are times when the best thing for an animal is to place it somewhere else.
 
Sometimes life throws a curve ball that makes it impossible to keep a beloved pet. At least this dog is coming back to rescue where it has a chance at another home. I could never see hubby or I willingly taking a new home where our animals were not able to be with us. I too believe a pet is a commitment that goes for the life of the animal. Unfortunately I see, through our rescue, that circumstances can change thereby forcing a caretaker to relinquish the animal. We have spent a lot of money and time rehabilitating Tinsel. Our goal is to keep him as healthy and happy as we can for the rest of his days. But, what would happen if we found ourselves without enough money to pay for his needs due to a downturn in our finances or health? Of course we would try to find a way to meet our needs and his but what if????? Sadly, many people do see dogs as "second class citizens" that can be disposed of it anything changes. They profess to be animal lovers but they don't plan for eventualities. Hope this little one is able to adjust to being back in care and then to another family. Give her a hug from me please.
 
Tagg said:
Sometimes life throws a curve ball that makes it impossible to keep a beloved pet...

I too believe a pet is a commitment that goes for the life of the animal. Unfortunately I see, through our rescue, that circumstances can change thereby forcing a caretaker to relinquish the animal...

But, what would happen if we found ourselves without enough money to pay for his needs due to a downturn in our finances or health?...

Hope this little one is able to adjust to being back in care and then to another family. Give her a hug from me please.
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Tagg:

I always enjoy your insight. I just can't assume the worst in situations like this without waaay more information than was provided. When I watch the progression of this type of thread, one of my daughter's favorite sayings often comes to mind. She often chides me with, "You're assuming facts not yet in evidence, dad!" (She's a lawyer, they talk like that). :yes: I can't shake the feeling that if this family didn't care about the dog, they wouldn't have offered it to the rescue where it came from.

But again, I appreciate the way you look at many of the topics here. Plus, I anxiously await any Tinsel update that might be in the offing.
 
Well, I got the full story when I picked Sadie up tonight . . . no health issues - they are just moving to NM from Kansas City. . . and she barks in the car. . . sigh . . .

Don't get me wrong, I totally understand if a dog is surrendered because of the parent's failing health . . . but although they went on and on about what a great dog she is, apparently she is now inconvenient to them.

Anyway, she is here now, but, bless her heart, she is panting and pacing, trying to figure out how to get out of here and back home.

Owner surrenders are the toughest for us in rescue . . . the poor dogs don't know what has happened to upend their world so suddenly.

Sadie is safe and loved now . . .unfortunately, I can't keep her, so she will be shuffled into a new home . . again.
 
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