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WECLOME TO HEX DOG TRAINING!

Ask Me How I Feel About People Who Give Up their Dogs for the Following Reasons:

2/5/2014

6 Comments

 
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Alright.

Is it even possible for those of us that are involved in rescue to convey the frustration of receiving an email such as this:

"
We have a 2 year old blue nose full pit.  GREAT tempered dog... We got him at 9 weeks old from a very good breeder and parents were on premises.  He is the snuggliest most friendly dog I've ever owned.  We have a 6 month old kitten we got at 5 weeks old... he is like a mother hen to the cat, gentle and loving.  We have 6 kids ranging from 19 to 11.  He is wonderful with children.  Zero aggression.  Currently NOT fixed.  My husband worked from home when we got him, spent a lot of time training him.  He sits, speaks, very well-behaved other than occasional chewing if left alone too long (mostly pillows!)  My husband had back surgery last summer, money has been tight and we have not been able to have him fixed.  My husband is relocating for work to Myrtle Beach SC sometime in the next few weeks and our family will be joining him in June.  Because my husband and I both currently work now out of the house over 40 hours each... and our kids are so busy... the poor dog is alone most of the time.  He is, I would say... about 90% housebroken.  He knows how to go outside, he even cries at the door MOST of the time but with our kids being so busy... and frankly.. kids... he does have accidents in the house..  more often than we would like. We can not consider taking him with us in June for several reasons the most important being our rent down there would go up quite a bit to bring a dog and also I can not take the risk of him ruining a floor or carpet... We currently own our home and it is going to be an expense to replace carpets.  I need to find him a good loving home before we leave."

What I have to say to the daily email I receive that has this connotation, is this:


Are you serious?

For real???  So, you're basically trying to re-home your dog based of your own lack of training?
  You are telling me that you're dog isn't house-trained so you are trying to re-home him?  And you're telling me how EXPENSIVE he is because you have to replace the carpet in your  own home because you didn't house-train your own dog?  Do you realize how stupid this sounds?  And, just to cover this base, you are telling me that you didn't make "time" for the dog you bought (not that that devalues a dog from a breeder vs. adoption, but you generally pay a lot more)?

I would love for you to sit in my chair for one week.

I'd love for you to literally sit in my chair, at my roll-top desk that my Nana handed down to me, and read the emails I read on a daily basis.
  Do you have any idea how hard it is to place pit bulls that are "perfect?"  Let me give you a second to absorb that, and then ask, do you have any idea how hard it to place pit bulls with "house-training" issues?

The Top Five Reasons that I Think are B*llshit to Give Up a Dog:

1)    I'm moving somewhere that won't take my dog. 

*****DON'T move there, then.  I have literally been HOMELESS because I wouldn't give up my dogs.  Because I'm a "crazy dog lady?"  NO.  Because I took responsibility for another living creature.  "Different than" is not "less than" and because dogs are not homo sapiens does not devalue their existence.  I took responsibility for my dogs when I committed to them the day I adopted each.  You don't give your dog up and move without them if you feel this way.*****

2)     I'm having a baby.

*****I'm pretty sure you had 9 months (or so) of notice on that.  That's nine straight months you could have taken responsibility for the life (k9) you had committed to care for.  It's possible you could have
remedied whatever problem(s) you had.  Not for nothing, it's statistically shown that infants raised with canines have stronger immune systems.  That aside, you go to give up your dog without even trying formal training with a qualified trainer?  That's deplorable.
******

3)    My homeowners insurance.

*****
There are a few factors here.  You should have made yourself aware of the conditions of your homeowners insurance before you got your dog.  AND if the excuse you're giving is "I took it from someone who was going to drop it off at the shelter to get euthanized," it IS possible to make accommodations for the dog.  ASIDE from dropping him/her off at the shelter... to get euthanized.  I have five myself and a revolving door of fosters...  In the age of social media, the resources exist.  Ever heard of Canine Good Citizen Training & Testing?*****

4)    My dog doesn't get along with my other dogs.

*****
Ok.. I DO realize this is above the average dog owner's skill level, BUT... There is such a thing as "Crate 'n Rotate" and skilled professionals that can help you.  It took me tons of training & rehabilitation before I was able to have Patches free in the house with any dog and no muzzle.  How did I accomplish this with an impossible case?  Commitment.  Just because you're a professional football player doesn't mean you don't have a coach, a team and a trainer.  Stay humble enough to realize you don't know it all.  Seek out help.  If you don't, you have no excuse.*****


Let me be clear: I am NOT saying there is NO legit reason to re-home your dog.  Those reasons DO exist.  I just personally feel that the above four are not.

5)     (And 6, 7, 8, 9.. etc.)
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6 Comments
Marc Hartzell
2/5/2014 03:33:03 am

love the article it was a vary interesting read and I know how you feel I have heard so many excuses about why people couldn't keep their dogs or cats unfortunately I was not able to save all of them but did save most. Thank you for the wonderful things you do for the world and being such an angle for the animals

Reply
marc
2/5/2014 03:34:33 am

sorry slip of the finger on keyboard I meant to say Angel

Reply
Karen
2/5/2014 10:45:16 am

When I was going through a divorce and losing my home even my friends and family stated I would live in my car before I would give up my dogs. When I lost my job I ate ramen noodles but my dogs ate top quality. I live for my dogs.

Reply
Apple
2/6/2014 07:48:01 am

I have been in the business of personal rescue for more than 20 years. I have been the one who has taken other peoples hand-off dogs. No one has been anymore frustrated by this seemingly disregard for pets than me. Ask any shelter worker or volunteer, they will all tell you they've heard the excuses, some legit, most simply are, just that, excuses. But here we are, still hearing them. It hasn't changed, nor do I expect it will. There will always be people who obtain pets without the slightest inkling about the time and commitment involved in training and maintaining; and once realized will offer an excuse at the time of surrender. THAT is human nature, a survival mechanism to reduce guilt. Instead of judging these individuals offer solutions. Instead of criticizing individuals offer education. Often times it is a matter of ignorance and lack of experience that leads a person to resolution with a pet. And if all else has failed instead of shaming offer support by taking the animal and re-homing, because if all other efforts have failed, then it really is a matter of not caring, and at the end of the day that animal is far better off in a home where they are wanted then forced to stay where they are not. Ranting and raving and getting angry about it solves nothing. You can't make people feel what they don't feel.

Reply
Cassie-Leigh Stock link
2/6/2014 03:23:08 pm

If you knew anything about me, or bothered to check out the website before YOUR rant, you would know that I DO every single thing you suggested. I foster, rescue, provide free training, adopt, transport, etc. I hear ya on the "don't bring me problems, bring me solutions" thing, but that does not mean I don't have an opinion. I have a blog because it's a release for me.. I can say exactly what I think. And no matter what you just said, I DO think it's deplorable to treat dogs like they are disposable. I meant every word of this article.

Reply
Corey Thomas link
4/29/2014 06:05:56 pm

I love my pets and I can't even think about leaving my pets. Anyway this article is interesting and loved to read it.

Reply



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