The Luck of the Draw

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Lately, I have been looking at the pictures of the Doodles in Need of Homes from the DRC and IDOG on the front page of DK.  From time to time, I see a dog I fall in love with, but I know in my heart that two is my limit. Yet, I can’t help thinking about the luck of the draw. I think it when I drive by my neighbor’s house and see four beautiful dogs chained up outside 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  I think it when I read the sad rescue stories; see the discussion about the dog listed on Craigslist, and any time I read about Puppy Mill dogs. It is the same feeling I have when I think how lucky I am to be born in the USA.  Does it just come down to the luck of the draw?

I really try not to be judgmental, but I get so tired of the same old stories….dog gets too big, dog is too exuberant, family overwhelmed with the responsibility of a dog and small children, owner no longer has time for dog…and on and on.  Since when is it ok to throw away a member of the family? Yes, I know some people have valid reasons and I am so glad rescue organizations exist to help these dogs, but I just can’t help wondering why more thought doesn’t go into dog ownership BEFORE you bring that dog or puppy home. Why is it a surprise that a dog with big parents gets big? Or that a dog and kids makes for a busy life? Or that a puppy has energy and just might pee in your house?  Or that a dog is a lot of work? Thank goodness, my parents couldn't return me when I turned out to be their third girl instead of the boy they wanted, or when I grew to be 6 feet tall, or when my hair grew long and straight and not a curl in sight.

When I look at Fudge and Vern, I can’t imagine taking them to the back yard and chaining them up and coming out just to change the water and food.  I cannot imagine taking them to the pound and dumping them or ever giving them up.  I think about the Labs I had and what Velcro dogs they were and how our Hershey wanted one thing in life and that was to be in the same room with her people.  What if she had ended up with someone that wanted an “outdoor” dog?  Why, oh why, do these people get a dog?  

No dog on that front page deserves to be on that page. Again, I understand that sometimes circumstances change and someone is forced to give up their dog through no fault of their own, but all too often the reasons are superficial and selfish.  Each one of those dogs could have started out with any one of the great owners on DK, but they didn’t.  It is just their bad luck that they ended up at the hands of some human that changed their mind, saw dollar signs instead of a dog, got too busy for them, or did not want them anymore.  So, now that sweet puppy or dog has to start over, have their life turned upside down, learn new rules, learn to trust again, and hopefully, end up in the home that you wish they had gotten the first time around. It all boils down to the luck of the draw, I guess

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Wow, Leslie, Halas has that face down pat...I would never leave him :)

[Leslie and Halas]

I agree - luck of the draw.  I feel guilty if I don't come straight home from work each night to hang out with Halas.  And forget about going home after work and then leaving again; that guilt is even worse (see Halas' video Guilt: A Dark Comedy).  And doodles (and other dogs for that matter) are usually so forgiving.  It's amazing to me how some of them are still friendly and loving, despite what they've been through.  Maybe that shows that they know they were just waiting for the right person, and that that person would come along some day.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Donna, I have not read that book, but am going to put it on my list.

Allyson, Peri and Tacky are lucky to have you! A dog is such a wonderful thing for a child to grow up with and teaches them so much, it is a shame your friend did not keep her pug.

Sue, That does sound nice!!

[Donna K & Quincy]

Laurie, if you haven't read A Dog's Purpose, you should. It is sad, but clearly proves your point that it's the luck of the draw. In an ideal world, neither animals nor people would ever be mistreated, but sadly our world in so much less than ideal.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Which is why I have said to DH before "I would love to come back in life as a dog, but only as OUR dog, living OUR life" (the good life).  Not all dogs have it like Peri and Tacky and it breaks my heart when I see those that don't.  A good friend's pug is now living with grandma now that their baby came.  Said pug was love of their life prior to baby. I know I will not turn out like that, and yes, pug has a great home, but still!!!!!????? WTD?

[Sue, Lola, Pongo & Hubby]

I couldn't agree more. I wish I had a giant piece of land where I could adopt all the doodles in need in my area and give them a great home. I think about this all the time.

[Lindsey]

It is heart breaking :-(
Adrianne- Glad those "friends" are no longer "friends"!!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Thank you, Karen.

Adrianne, I am sorry your "friends" did not understand how much you can love a dog.

[Adrianne Matzkin]

We got our first dog as a family BC (before children), Jasmine, a GR. She was our first baby. When she suddenly passed at the young age of 7, Mark was on the golf course. I called hysterically to get him off the course. It was the 4th of July weekend and the golf club had a family bar b q. My human daughters were 5 and 3. They were so looking forward to the bar b q that we went even though our hearts were just broken. We didn't tell them until the next day. When our good 'friends' asked why I was so hysterical on the phone I told them about Jasmine passing away in our home. Most of the responses I heard was 'oh, it was just a dog, I thought it was something important'. REALLY??? Those 'friends' were people I never spoke to again. My dogs have always been family members - never just a dog.

 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

The luck of the draw. I think about it all the time, every time another dog comes into the program. Once, each of those dogs on the front page was a puppy in a litter, whether in a puppy mill or with a breeder. Each puppy was sold and went home with someone. Those guys on the front page drew the short straws, and went home with the wrong people. They had no say in the matter at all.

Thank you for posting this, Laurie. It really says it all. I hope people will crosspost it and maybe, just maybe, it will make people think, and maybe help a few dogs avoid the fate of being posted in the Doodles In Need of Homes section.