Standard Poodle with ear problems....helping out an anonymous Craigslister

[Missi]

While perusing the craigslist ads (As I do when I'm bored), I found this plea for help:

I figured I could post it here and send her the link if anyone had any suggestions on how to help.    So, THIS IS NOT ME, just trying to help someone out.

http://wichita.craigslist.org/pet/1756237901.html

"It is with a heavy heart that I place this post. I have decided to try to find a good home for my black Standard Poodle.


Jack is about 4 years old, not neutered, and is current on his rabies
shot. I did not buy his papers, because we just wanted him for a pet.
He is perfectly housebroken, although he is not above checking out the
trash can for something interesting, and counter surfing is like an
Olympic sport for him. He loves to go for car rides, and will sit up
regally, and never budge. He is shy, but warms up. He ignores kids,
loves other dogs, and chases cats that won't stand up to him. (We have
one that he torments, and one that he wouldn't dare mess with.) He is
gentle natured, and is happy to spend his day lounging on the couch.
He's a total couch potato.


So why are we parting with Jack? His ears. We have fought his ears for
2 years now--the whole time we have had him. We have tried everything.
We have had him to two different vets. We have had him on antibiotics,
swimmer's ear medicine, peroxide treatments, vinegar solutions, ear
mite medicine--everything we could think of, read about, or had
suggested. We have changed his dog food, at the recommendation of
several people who posted here in response to my request for advice
about 2 months ago. We were hoping it was something as simple as a food
allergy, but that doesn't seem to be the case.


Most recently, I have been taking him to the groomer each week to have
his ears professionally cleaned and medicated. By the time I take him
the next week, his ears are full of blood again. She thinks it might be
genetic, or that he might need some very expensive testing done to find
out the root of the problem. We are at the end. We've had some life
changing events in our family in the last couple of months, and this is
more than I can do.



His ears smell horrible. He whines if you bump his ears. He is in pain. We are to the point that Jack has had enough. We are unable to
cure this problem, so I wish to either find someone who is
knowledgeable about ear problems in poodles and can help him, or I am
going to have him put to sleep so he is no longer suffering with this.
I tried unsuccessfully to contact his breeder shortly after we got him,
but she will not return emails. The groomer believes the breeder is
avoiding us, thinking that we want our money back because she didn't
disclose his ear problems. I don't know. I just know that this has gone
on long enough.


I am not trying to make money off Jack. I just want him to go to a
great home with someone who is more capable of giving him the care he
needs. He really is a great dog. I will not let him go to just anyone.
I am hesitant to give him away for free, because I don't want someone
to just take him without thinking things through, and not giving him
the care that he needs. For this reason, I am requiring a donation to
the Humane Society, the zoo, or other animal charity of your choice, in
a check form, that I will mail in to be sure it is carried through.


For more information, feel free to email the anonymized CL link. Thanks for reading.
"

[Adina P]

There's a lot of ifs, what ifs, ands, buts, and possible reasons to question. But the fact is she's not dumping him at the pound. She has gone to two vets and she's not neglected his ears...the problem simply wasn't being solved by conventional treatments. So for whatever reason this person believes she has no other option given her situation than to find the dog another home (or the horrible other option).

Doesn't matter what we would have done differently. The fact is she (did we confirm it's a woman?) can't or won't for whatever personal reasons she has--and she owns the dog so it's her choice. We can speculate and draw conclusions about her and whether she deserves or doesn't deserve a dog. But it's not going to change the situation. We have our own ideas of what ideal dog ownership is and what we all would do in the same situation. I don't know this person from Adam or Eve. I don't know the situation. There are people who have different values about dog ownership and ways to handle situations and STILL love their dog lots. I can come up with lots of reasons she may not have done what we would have done. But none of this matters.

The issue is the dog needs someone who WILL fix his ear problem if possible. If someone can help...AWESOME! If not, then I really don't see the point of speculating and judging someone we don't know and coming to all the possible negative conclusions that may or may not be true about an unknown person.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

You're absolutely right. I'm sorry I let my emotions lead me to making judgments about a stranger.
And you are right that none of that matters anyway. The issue is the dog.
I still haven't heard back from anyone about him.

[Adina P]

Well I hope you do. Sounds like you could help Bobby FosterDoodle

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Haha.... I like Bobby Fosterdoodle...

Continue to keep us posted Karen - You are right, the issue is the dog and anything that can be done to help him will be positive. I hope you hear back from the owner or the rescue groups.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I hope you do too. If "Bobby" or "Fitzie" is is looking for you, he will make his way to you, and with all your knowledge and love you'll "save" him. If not, it's just because there's another dog who needs you more who is waiting in the wings to make you his Mom. I'm trying so hard not to even think of the current owners....just to think about the possibilities that may lie ahead for this guy (previously known as Jack).

[Laura & Chewie]

In complete agreement with everything Adina said.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Ah Adina, as always astute! You are so good at getting to the gist of an issue and bypassing the emotional quagmire.

[Missi]

Wow, I went to bed and all of this happens! Karen, I really hope you hear something; when I posted it, I was hoping you would have some advice (or more)! I would be glad to hold him here (at my house in wichita) if needed before transport. Or take him to the airport! I have cats and two doodles already, so I obviously can't keep him. But, I read the posting and really wanted to help! Keep us informed.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Oh, Karen I definitely think this guy needs you. I look at Clancy and can't figure out why he was in that kill shelter, but he was so..... If you like o or a on the end there is always the name: Jocko - teehee. Hank is actually very close to Jack but perhaps enough different for them to know the difference, however I am a traditionalist and like Peirre as in Cardin.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Any word from the owner Karen?

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

I do certainly hope that he gets surrender and gets the help that he needs. Think Karen would be an excellent person to get him that help. My thoughts on the name would be that unless you (Karen) intend to keep him permanently that maybe a solution where he wouldn't need a name change might be better for him -- I was thinking something like "Jackson" rather than a complete name change. Someone on another post also spelt it Jaxson or something like that. I'm sure there has probably been research done to show there is no effect from changing their name, but it just seems that is one more thing to confuse them at an already difficult time.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I agree; name is not the top priority. If he ends up here, he may have to stay by default, because I don't know that a 4 year old black male with chronic health problems/hearing loss is going to be in great demand for adoption. People do surprise you, though.
We haven't heard a word yet; I'm hoping a local rescue has reached out to her. I'm sure that since she's unfamiliar with rescue to begin with, some emails from strangers in IL & NJ seem suspicious. And a lot of people who truly care about their dog feel bad enough about giving them up and don't want to put the dog through the additional trauma of transport. So we'll see what happens.