quote:

Originally posted by Flora Klok:
"You're an idiot."

Now I feel like Dan

Let me clarify:
Fan = Idiot, GEM = Not an Idiot

Mama, I have heard this story many times and frankly in most cases makes no sense. Keep looking. You will be able to find a good match for your family. Make sure YOU are the picky one. Don't settle. Most dogs are in shelters/rescue for reasons. Make sure you know as much as you can about the dogs history.

quote:

Originally posted by Flora Klok:
Let me clarify:
Fan = Idiot

Isn't that a redundant post?

quote:

Westie

Instead of dumping the dog, why not buy a crate, make a small kennel and just be a bit cautious for the next 2-3 years?

Do you have a small room and a gate where you can keep the dog away from the baby until he accepts it?

Do you have a basement? There are a lot of thing you could do to co-exhist.

Once your little one(s) is/are a bit bigger, they will learn not to pester the dog and will more than likely become best of friends!

I just don't understand why or how some people can give up their pets. Can't return the kids?. . . .Can you?

GEM, understand this:

1.We're not dumping the dog, we are carefully screening potential adopters and giving them full disclosure as to Buddy's behavioral issues, which we never had.

2.We cannot risk having our infant daughter being maimed by a dog that has an itchy trigger finger.

3.We spent $3K to fence in our yard and build a dog run. We spent $1K for behavioral training. It's not like we didn't try to make it work.

4.Of course we have a crate, but we won't perpetually keep him locked up. He deserves better.

5.Buddy moved with us from GE to NYC and then back to GE all in the last 3 yrs. We are very attached to him and the last thing we want to do is give him up. We have another Westie as well, but he is very docile and on the other end of the spectrum.

6.Buddy displays affection towards our daughter, but can and will snap if say his fur is pulled. We obviously monitor where they are in relation to each other but we won't take the chance. But thanks for the keen insight that they will become "best friends" we hadn't considered that.

7.Your analogy to not being able to throw away kids really makes sense. On second thought, I think we're going to adopt a third dog.

Mamattorney, have you tried CatAttract litter? Works like a charm with my boy who is very picky about litters.

Westie...I just sent an e-mail to a couple we are friends with in Chicago that have three Westies of various ages <one is 19yo and in great health>. I know at least one of theirs is also a rescue. They truly treat their dogs like their children.

If they aren't interested, old neighbors of mine in Glen Ellyn are major Westie lovers...I haven't spoken with them in ages, so I have no idea what their 'dog situation' is right now, but I can also contact them for you if the first couple doesn't work out.

If we didn't already have a rescued Golden Retriever with aggression issues towards other dogs, we would take him in a heart-beat!

Oh, I guess I should ask, is Buddy still available?

Buddy is still available, appreciate you reaching out to fellow Westie lovers.

thanks gering. Very kind of you... Mr Buddy is a special guy.

GEM's post really got me down - nice to see that there are people out there who want to help us find a nice home and not pass judgement.

No Problem, Westie...I just left a message for my old neighbors on their answering machine and left your e-mail address and a little background on Buddy. Would be nice to have Buddy with a family in the area!

quote:

Originally posted by Westie:
thanks gering. Very kind of you... Mr Buddy is a special guy.

GEM's post really got me down - nice to see that there are people out there who want to help us find a nice home and not pass judgement.

I'm not passing judgement, I just asked some questions, and tossed out some possible solutions. If you feel it's not going to work out with buddy, then by all means another home would be his best option. Your original post(s) mentioned nothing about your efforts to make it work. (i.e. the fence, kennel ect.)

Training is a good option, but you must do it yourself (not sending your dog to "boot" camp that seldom works) Consistency is the key!

A good majority of the animals that are left and Mrs. Gem's clinic aren't there for the "stated" reason.

People will dump them for behavioral and/or housebreaking problems.

They develop health issues that are too expensive or bothersome for the owner to contend with.

Have you tried to post any adoption notices at local dog training facilities? Try Top, Paws or even the German Shepherd Club of Chicago (on County Farm Road in Hanover Park) I have also noticed bulletin boards at local pet shops.

Good Luck!

I just keep thinking that if we insisted on the same conditions for having children as the shelters seem to require for having dogs, there would be a lot less problems in the world!

Nice, fenced in yard. Someone home all day. Sounds great!

Amen to that - Amy!! And Happy Birthday, fellow Leo!

My brother adopted a shelter dog - pointer/black lab mix about ten years ago. I still remember what he said was on the "Reason for Being at the Shelter" card: My wife refused to love the dog.

Lucky has been a fantastic dog for my brother - I love a happy ending!

Thanks GEmom2. BTW, I love a happy ending too. If you love dogs, I still think the best movie ever is "My Dog Skip." I really, really love that movie. I watch it to try to quench my desire to have a pet dog.....

Update - Our dear Mr. Buddy has found a very loving home here in Glen Ellyn.

We had 2 wonderful families contact us about Buddy.

The first family who contacted us, thanks to GlenEllynRing, is now settling in with Buddy.

We really could not be happier with how it worked out - we will be able to visit him from time to time and he has a few little friends to romp around with.

Thank you!

What a wonderful story! GER...you rock!

quote:

The first family who contacted us, thanks to GlenEllynRing, is now settling in with Buddy.

Wow, I'm so glad it worked out. I had a feeling that couple would just jump at the chance. They are great, great people...Buddy is in very capable and loving hands.

Thanks for the update, and M2C, thanks for that. It is appreciated.

Yes! They are wonderful. She mentioned that your dog saved her life about 15 years ago.

YES, I forgot all about that! She was brutally attacked by a neighbors dog and our Black Lab-mix <that lived until she was 19> intervened and attacked the other dog so our neighbor could get away to safety. Thanks for sharing that, Westie.