If you stopped by to see what my dog's New Years Resolutions are, forgetaboutit. Not gonna happen.
My kids and I have resolved to take in more dogs in 2011. We as a family are in give back mode. Cheers to our 8 fosters of last year, Donner, Toller, Stella (Evon), Marti and Rosebud, Mango, Meggie and Sapphire. It is a pleasure working with Canine Commitment and CARA and we look forward to helping many more dogs in 2011.
Meet new foster dog Lucy. Lucy is a 3 year old Beagle x Fox Terrier -most likely. We are still getting to know her, but first impression is that she is a sweet heart and highly adoptable. She lived with 3 kids as young as 2 years old and also with 2 cats. Her family adopted her from CC at 10 weeks old, and relinquished her back to rescue. Lucy's family was overwhelmed with a new job and extended work hours. Now before you all go jumping on other people for choosing to give up a "family member" please pause to remind yourselves that these folks made a difficult choice and chose what was best for the dog. I have clients facing a life changing event who are returning one of their two dogs to the ARL (as per contract). Isn't it best that we are not selfish and stop and ask ourselves, what is best for the dog as well as ourselves?
I don't often tell people, but I gave up a dog when I was pregnant. It was heart wrenching and it was awful and sad, but I don't regret it. As it turned out, my son was born with a heart defect and if I had not done my homework and relinquished Rollo when I did, my family would have dumped him somewhere when we were in the hospital, and lord knows where he would have ended up. Now before you all go judging me to, let me say that he was my boy friends's dog who became mine over time. I trained Rollo to be a therapy dog, but he was not cut out for life in East Boston with no yard. No judging.
And to be clear, I am not saying it is ok for people to just "dump" dogs, but there are plenty of real life circumstances that justify dogs being better off living elsewhere. When we add dogs to our families we are then responsible for them. That does not mean, until death do we part. It means doing right by the dog, even if it is hard on the humans.
So enough of a lecture. I am sure Lucy will be moving on to her new home soon. Except for her uncanny ability to nose whistle show tunes, she has no behavior issues that I have seen.
I will try to get some better photos of Lucy soon and we will be updating her Petfinder bio as soon as I get to know her a bit better.
7 comments:
Good Confessional Nancy! I am a first time dog owner but I have had many cats. I have never given up an animal but can see, with a dog, how it can be unmanageable in many situations and life changes. I am also so amazed that when my puppy has visited somewhere maybe twice he remembers it and is desperate to go back when we are in the neighborhood. Which gets me thinking about how hard it must be for a dog with all that scent information/memory to leave something behind. But I also know that they are quite forgiving and live in the moment. Hopefully your rescue will find someone (perhaps a lonely neighbor) and live in those moments.
Thanks K.I so like my lonely neighbor idea, but she is not ready and fears her cats will get it's nose way our of joint. It is true, according to a science article published yesterday that cats don't like change.
a visit could help! Cats surprise me all the time. My cats do! My cats are definetely happier with Bandit around.
I gave up a dog just a few months ago - a Collie mix with an intense barking problem. Now, we live in a neighborhood where a local rescue walks and trains their dogs on our street regularly, and she (the collie mix) was just guarding/ saying hi/ talking to the regular stream of dogs, walkers, etc. She really is an extraordinarily friendly dog!
We rehomed her with a family that lives on an island in Maine. She has her own 11 year old girl, who sees Abby as her own Lassie and they adore each other. She gets to take regular walks (without a leash) to the beach, gets to chase her nemeses, squirrels, and hardly barks at all because the neighborhood she's in now is much quieter and more isolated. It wasn't my ideal to rehome her, but it worked out for everyone, including Abby.
K- Time will tell right? Caroline. I hear you. Sometimes dogs are just better off elsewhere.
K- Time will tell right? Caroline. I hear you. Sometimes dogs are just better off elsewhere.
Great post Nancy.. it is so easy to judge people that give up their dogs, but there are really caring people out there that are thinking of the dog's happiness and quality of life over their own. And unless you know all the facts or been in their shoes, do not judge!
Best of luck with your new foster! I have recently taken in a foster pup but am really considering keeping him! He is a three legged pup and I am really enjoying working with him and can see him as a working dog! STill really thinking about it!
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