Ranting about stupid dog ownership

[OakLeaf]

If that's really what the vet said, I've got to blame the vet as much as your friend. More, really. If I'd adopted a pet and then been told by a "professional" that it would be sure to hurt my grandchildren, I'd probably take it back, too.

I have my doubts that that's really what she was told, though. So sad.

[tctrek]

I have my doubts that that's really what she was told, though. So sad.

Agreed. Hard to believe a vet would say something like that.

[Trek420]

I'm not saying your friend is telling a fib but that sounds like an excuse and not what the vet said. My pit mix barked at dogs and pulled on her leash when adopted. She pulled so hard that my ex (who really really wanted a dog) would not walk her. She said it hurt her arm. This said by the gal who played defensive line on a women's semi pro football team.

But I walked Mae and was not about to take the clearly in the light of day pit/lab/something/something mix mutt back.

The vet recommended a training class as most vets would. Mae still barks at dogs but now has dogs she likes.

She walks beautifully on her leash.

She also likes going down the slide at the kiddie park. This abstract is her wagging tail.

I hope Joey finds a forever home

[Reesha]

You know... as frustrating as it is to see this happen, I can't help but think it's better for the dog than if the owner decided to keep them. Obviously it would be best for the dog to find a forever home straight away, but I'd rather see a dog returned than spend its life with a dog owner who isn't fully committed, you know?

[Biciclista]

bottom line it was obviously more dog than your friend could handle.
They should never have let her out of the door with it.

(but i know it's hard to screen !)

[Dogmama]

I do think Joey is better off and I'm sure he'll be adopted because he's very sweet, black & white with a very delicate bone structure.

I think my friend is an idiot - and yes - I do think that she lied about the vet conversation. She probably changed her mind - OK - but lying about it compounds the whole thing. When will people realize that a dog is for life - not just a plant to keep around until you get tired of watering it?

[Trek420]

I do think Joey is better off and I'm sure he'll be adopted because he's very sweet, black & white with a very delicate bone structure.

Folks the shelters and our wonderful foster pet parents are working double duty right now. People lose their home and leave the dog, get a pink slip and abandon the cat ... the shelters are full.

This is why I feel so badly about Joey going back to the pokey. When I was picking up Mae I watched a couple return a beautiful GSD because he had bitten the Mrs. The volunteers tried to explain the options, what might have happened did everything they could to try to convince the couple to get help and a class.

It made an impression on me.

If you want a pet please consider adopting a shelter or rescue pet. If I had more time (about to start taking a class as well as working full time) I'd be volunteering to walk dogs.

[smilingcat]

I have to agree with some who think that your friend fibed about the vet's comment.

Like others here, we also foster and adopt out cats. We used to foster dogs too.

It doesn't sound like the friend was ready for a forever companion. And it was a right decision to return instead of keeping the dog. The dog would have become more of a burden than a family member. Really sad to see the dog panicking but I hope his next adoption will be the right one, to a forever family.

If you think about it, there are no perfect forever pets. Just like children, they will get into trouble from time to time. From glass half-empty perspective, all pets have issues. For those of us who are commited to our animals, we see their faults/issues and accept them along with what they bring into our lives. We learn to live with their issues just as the animals do with our issues.

friend sent me this the other day.

A Lesson in Humility
If you can start the day without caffeine,
If you can get going without pep pills,
If you can always be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains,
If you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles,
If you can eat the same food every day and be grateful for it,
If you can understand when your loved ones are too busy to give you any time,
If you can overlook it when those you love take it out on you, when, through no fault of yours, something goes wrong,
If you can ignore a friend's limited education and never correct him,
If you can resist treating a rich friend better than a poor friend,
If you can face the world without lies and deceit,
If you can conquer tension without medical help,
If you can relax without liquor,
If you can say honestly that deep in your heart you have no prejudice against creed, color or politics,
Then, my friend, you are almost as good as your dog.

-Anonymous

Your friend isn't ready to have a dog in the house. If she wants to have a dog again, suggest her to foster a dog and see for a while. If her interest in the dog wanes, the dog will be adopted out. The only drawback is, are there any resuce group willing to take her on as a foster parent.

I hope the dog will find a forever home. very sad.

[Biciclista]

Smilingcat, I disagree with you.
I have a perfect forever pet sitting on my lap right now.

[Irulan]

no comment on the fact that border collies and their mixes are super high energy, and that possible the poor thing was barking and pulling because it wasn't getting any exercise, ( or enough, as the case may be for that breed?)
??

[Selkie]

I agree w/Smilingcat. All pets can and will get into "trouble" but a good owner understands that a pet needs to learn the rules. I think a perfect pet would be boring. Flaws---be they human, canine, or feline---make us interesting. Even my "perfect" Agnes had flaws (chewing toilet paper, reams of computer paper, etc---things we blamed on Maeve until my husband caught Ags coming out of the bathroom with a roll of TP in her mouth, big fluffy golden tail wagging...) I miss that big girl.

Smilingcat, thank you for posting the Lesson in Humility. Right now, we are going through the puppy terrible twos with Margot, so it's good to have a reminder of innate goodness in a dog's heart (even an ornery one!).

[smilingcat]

Smilingcat, I disagree with you.
I have a perfect forever pet sitting on my lap right now.

LOL... should have realized. Some do have a prefect forever pet.