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]

Jane, All fingers and paws crossed here for you !!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Thanks, Anna & Joan.

Lisa, You know that brush belonged to me :)

Carol, I agree with you!

 

[Anna and Achilles]

Very Well Said!!!!!

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

Laurie, I too check the page often for a "maybe" 2nd pup...just in case there is one just at the right moment of weakness on my part and the extreme unlikely chance the DH would submit.
I still have Daisy's puppy bed that we paid way too much money for, seemingly unused as she grew so fast. Just yesterday I told him there was a group that buys and sells items on DK  and he said 'let's put her bed on it", (I was whining about wanting a new brush, wink wind) I just gave him a look. I said you made me sell Nicole's crib because we would get another if we had another baby....this time if we get another puppy I will already have the bed.

I just found a breeder that has a story on her website about how she had one dog several years ago and had to "give it away" as it was too over whelming for her with the kids, now she is breeding doodles and still has the kids, I won't even say what I wanted to write to her.

Like you I can't imagine my beautiful Daisy with anyone else....if we lost our home, our jobs she would be with us living in the car. She is a part of our family, when we got her it was for life. All the pros and cons of getting another dog was all well thought out, the costs, the inconvenience, the work it would take. I only wish everyone felt the same way.

[Carol and Banjo]

Yes, Laurie....It's so true...."the luck of the draw".  And so sad for so many of God's creatures - human or otherwise.    I've always felt it isn't education so much as an individuals lack of compassion.   Without compassion one can not really reach out to other living beings.

[Joan, Louie and Mila]

Laurie, you are so right as usual...(copy and paste this comment to your DH and daughters :) 

I am so grateful of the luck of the draw when It came to my parents, (Happy Father's Day Dad) and (Happy Birthday Mom) Both no longer here on earth with me but with me every day. I am who I am and thank them for my life...I messed things up later on but they were awesome!!!

My animals ...all of them could have found their way to other owners but I know they wouldn't have been loved like they are by me. Louie was adopted at 9 months and was loved and adored by his first mom and dad but at 76 and 78, a big puppy WAS too much. (they were sold a puppy that was to be 35 - 40lbs max) 

My daughters were born in Russia and had a rough life until I adopted them at 8 and 10. I shudder to think of what would have become of them if I hadn't... Even with our major ups and downs...

And I came home from Russia grateful to have been born in the USA!!! 

The LUCK of the Draw...YES.

And Camilla...u rock girl...Darwin is an inside treasure!!! Thanks to YOU!!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Laurie, this blog is unfortunately so true.  More and more rehomes are coming to DRC every day, to say nothing of the puppy mill and shelter Doodles who are now in desperate need of a home.  It is heartbreaking, and it is becoming more and more difficult to keep up with.  Jacquie and I have talked a lot recently about trying to obtain grant funding to launch a public awareness campaign aimed at educating the potential Doodle owner population on just what it takes to raise a Doodle puppy.  Our goal is to try to prevent the rehome situations before they happen.  We also need to help everyone to understand what they are doing when they buy a Doodle from a pet store or back yard breeder.  I personally am committed to this program...I believe it will help tremendously to begin to address the ever growing "homeless" situations we are now seeing.  Our first grant proposal will be mailed this week to the Victoria Stilwell Foundation...fingers and paws crossed for some positive funding news.  If anyone would like to help us with this, we need our DKrs to search for grant possibilities.  If you have a few minutes, please search the web looking for Foundations or organizations that provide funding for these types of efforts, and let us know what you find.  We can take it from there.  And, of course, DRC is always in need of donations to continue their mission of saving Doodles in need.  This DK community has already helped so much.  Everyone should feel really good knowing the part you've played with each dog that you see with an "Adopted" label next to their Petfinder "story".  We ARE making a difference...."puppy steps".

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

Sherri - I saw one of those puppies at the vet!  Adorable, beautiful little puppy.  I can't understand why anyone would do that to any dog, let alone a litter of little cuties...

 

My fiance and I have talked about this - that we got Luna from a breeder who doesn't take all the precautions she should.  In the end we agree that we wouldn't have it any other way because she is a wonderful dog and we can give her a really good life she may not have gotten somewhere else.

 

I don't think I should be allowed to go to the humane society, because I would want to bring all the dogs and cats (and birds and small mammals...) home!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I appreciate all the nice and thoughtful comments. I think education is the key too and I guess another job we have as parents, aunts/uncles, friends, etc. is to teach those people around us to respect animals.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

The whole dogs tied up outside thing drives me crazy.  We have some in our subdivision and I just don't understand it.  I will say again that I think that we are going to have to start with the very young and start educating them that this isn't the way it should be.  I've been working with my little Niece on planning her birthday party for July.  She is having a puppy themed party and she is going to be asking all of her friends to brings gifts for the dogs at the local shelter rather than gifts for her.  They will be making some display posters with photos of the dogs and the pound etc to display.  Then her Mother will be taking her to the shelter to drop off the items so she can see the dogs there and get an understanding of the lives that these dogs face and how her donations are going to help these dogs.  Emma will be turning 7, and she has a little heart of gold when it comes to animals.  She is so interested in the foster dogs that come through our home and why they are here and why they have lost their homes. She has a really hard time understanding why someone wouldn't want them.   I'm hoping that by having her party in this manner that she can reach some of her friends and then maybe they will reach some of their friends.  I know that is just a beginning, but we have to start somewhere.