My heart breaks...

[Marcy, Apollo & Phoebe]

My heart breaks when I see posts from owners looking to rehome their dogs. I don't get a chance to log-on to Doodle Kisses often. And almost every single time I log-on, I see a post from someone looking to rehome their dog.

I really don't understand, so I usually refrain from commenting. We live busy lives--I'm a lawyer and my husband is a software developer. We have kids--young ones. Our puppy is wild--just stopped nipping the kids, but still jumps all over them! We live in a smallish house--a 1940s bungalow. We have allergies and asthma. I have a chronic illness. Never in a million years could I imagine giving up my Apollo. In fact, he gives us so much love that we're considering another one (umm, not right now). The only circumstances I really understand are if someone is too ill to take care of their pet or if  some financial circumstances prevent proper care of the pet. I try not to judge, so I don't comment.

I am just feeling so heartbroken that I had to rant. My rant is over now...

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

That story breaks my heart. I had two ex-K9 fosters and they were the best dogs in the entire world. (Forgive me, JD). They die all the time in the line of duty; to have one die for no reason at all except stupidity is beyond tragic.

I'm surprised they aren't garnishing his wages to pay for another $30,000 dog.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Rant away....I know I agree with you!

[Lynette Main]

I live in Lima Ohio and there was a police officer in Celina Ohio that left his canine officer in the cruiser  and FORGOT about him. The officer came out after hours of being in the office and his dog was dead.Heat Stroke,is what they called it. Every day in the paper there is something written about this officer and his dog. He recieved 45 days off for the dogs death.  I think he should have been FIRED of the killing of a trained officer. Thats my rant.....

[F, Calla & Luca]

@Karen, great points and I do try to emphasize some of them when we meet people.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

[Adrianne Matzkin]

Rant away!! 

I went to L'Oreal's Because Your Dog Is Worth It Too today (a fund raiser for Susan Komen foundation). So many rescues were there (DRC will have a booth next year) from Grey Hounds,  Pit Bulls, Great Danes, Huskies, Beagles and to the physically disabled and blind dog rescues. Every single booth I passed I gave a small donation. Every single dog that I passed that had 'Adopt Me' vest on I had to fight back the tears. In one small place, on one day - there were just too many! BUT it was wonderful to see that they were so many people were giving a little money to help the rescues.

 

[Adrianne Matzkin]

[Colleen, Jake & Baxter]

Thanks for posting this.  As a foster for the DRC there is nothing more heartbreaking then going to pick up the doodle in need of a re-home.  Please when I write this it is not about me, I can only do this because of the good work and support of the DRC along with many of you.  The support on this board is wonderful and so appreciated. I really am a wimp when it comes to hearing about this kind of stuff.

Many times there is a division between husband and wife about the doodle and the doodle gets the short end of the stick.  I had a man crying his heart out the day he handed over his beloved doodle to me:( :(: How could I judge him?  I couldn't ....all I could do was promise that I would find the best home possible for his doodle.

Sometimes you go to their home and they just hand you the dog with only his leash....no toys or food or bed:(...sometimes they come to your home and leave you with an over-abundance of stuff.  This was from a young mother that had a 1 year old and became very, very ill with her 2nd pregnancy.  It was a heart wrenching decision for her and her husband. .Her comment to me what that she never thought she would be one of those kind of people that just give up their dog.

The good news is that it is wonderful to hook these dogs up with families that really want them.

All I can say is that when someone comes on this board looking to re-home their doodle continue to  try and steer them to the DRC and/or a reputable rescue group in their area.

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

a couple of years ago, when we only had 2 cats and Cooper, DH was not working, and my wages didnt quite cover our rent. We went through our savings and borrowed some money from family. We cut back to essentials only during these tough times, and while paying back our family once DH got a job. We ate through our cupboards. We literally ate lentils for a month - all i bought were some onions to give it some flavour and added spices and herbs we had in out cupboard. Believe me, there are many different recipes for lentils!!! Cooper and the cats of course still got their good food (raw diet) and ate much better than us. I would not have given my babies up for anything. When I lost my job last year we were fortunate to be able to move in with my inlaws (half way across the country) with Cooper and now 3 cats while we got on our feet. Now we have our own place,  money is tight, but I wouldnt give up my babies for anything. We make sacrifices (by not really having a life other than work/computer/eat/sleep) so that we can buy their food, take them to the vet, have insurance etc. I know that unexpected things come up, but I do believe most people could make it work if they really wanted it to.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I knowI've said this many times before, but we can all help keep these situations from happening by not being so gung ho about these dogs. I know that sounds strange, but there is a phenomena with doodles; because of all the hype (The Perfect Family Dog! Non-shedding, allergy friendly, good with kids, smart, easy to train, healthy, dadada) there are a lot of people who never had a dog and maybe never really wanted a dog, seeing this stuff or meeting a doodle somewhere and deciding, "Well, maybe I could live with that if they're that easy and don't shed", etc. You don't have that happening with most other breeds. Almost every owner who has posted here looking to rehome a dog, and most every owner who has relinquished to the DRC, are first timers, (having grown up with dogs doesn't count.) In most cases, there are younger kids involved, too.

So when someone admires your dog, don't give them a sales pitch. As hard as it is, don't rave about how perfect your dog is, even if he is. If they say how cute he is, mention that it's a lot of work and $ to keep him looking that way. If they say how well-behaved he is, mention that it takes a lot of time, work and $ to train him, or that he was hell-on-wheels as a puppy. Your dog will forgive you for not gushing about him. Everyone should not have a dog. Everyone will not be the kind of owner you are.