I try to understand
But there are cases I will never understand. Barney, a horribly matted 8 year old I got some years ago who had been dropped off at the pound by someone's gardener like yesterday's unwanted trash. Or Bo, an 8 year old female who had spent her life as a backyard breeder's bitch until she was arthritic and had all the hair worn off her elbows from living in a concrete pen, and finally got too old to produce more litters. "Free to good home" they said of Bo. She lived another 5 years with my male, Randy, but the calluses on her elbows never went away. It's been many years since I even thought of getting an OES puppy. There are too many dogs being bred and as long as an OES pup commands $1000 there will always be puppy mills and back yard breeders around to produce more. I wish the market would dry up and anyone considering getting a puppy would think first about a rescue. There are so many out there-- just look at the "dogs in trouble" and rescuing a sheepdog" columns in this forum-- more entries combined than the puppy column. And those dogs are just the tip of the iceburg. I think second hand OES make the best pets anyway. Unless they have been seriously twisted by abuse (thankfully I have never run into that), they just seem to try harder with their new families. Maybe they know it's their last chance. |
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| I can't remember the last dog I got as a puppy..........years, decades ago. All since have been rescues. Most have come without knowledge of background and they've taken some time to unpack their "baggage" before they integrated with us, but in each case they have become incredible dogs, each with their own personality, loyal beyond belief, friendly to a fault with approved stranges (why I can't I sit in their laps and lick their faces???).
Some people just shouldn't have dogs or pets of any kind. They are too self absorbed. The dog asks only for safety, food and a leader who cares for their welfare. Is that too much? For millions of people, yes....and that is sad. |
| i have 2 out of my 3 that are rescues and they really know they have been saved !! |
| I never realized how many dogs went to recues, until I found this forum. My next dogs will be recues... it makes my sad every time I read about one. |
| Keira is my first rescue. I swear she is the sweetest most loving little thing. Its almost as though she is grateful to us for giving a home and love, and of course, her big brother, Pirate. I, too, am amazed a the huge number of rescue dogs out there. |
| 2 of my 3 are "rehomed" (one turned out to really be a rescue, but I'll not go into that). I can't imagine life without any of them. Over the last several years I've also "rescued" several others and found good homes for them - although I'm not affiliated with an official rescue group - they just seem to be in the vicinity when I can help...so I do. It's very rewarding to see them end up in a happy family.
We bought our first from a breeder - back before I ever even heard of a rescue. Now, he's been the best dog we could ever hope for. But now that I know what I do...I'll always rescue. |
| I never thought about all of the dogs in rescue either until I found this forum. My husband and I decided that our next oes will be a rescue as well. I think most "rescued" dogs know what you did for them, and in the end, they end up "rescueing" you. |
| Heart is my first totally planned, thought out,anticipated,patiently waited for....dog...
All others were "rescued" from either a pet shop, BYB ( I have learned since then) or the Humane Society. I agree with rfloch about what kind of circumstances force people into giving up a member of their family.... We rescued Pearl from the Humane Society. She was brought in by a young couple who put her in the back of a pickup to get her to the HS. They "didn't realize how much grooming an OES required" (and that is a direct quote). The worse she got the less she was allowed in the house.... When we first saw Pearl, she had just been brought in...I remember thinking, how sad this dog looks, she was of course very underweight and so matted with bugs and grass and burrs... I sat on the floor next to her and she looked up at me and licked my hand........... It almost killed me to leave her..Since she wasn't spayed and over 6 months old they would not release her until they did the surgery. We picked her up 3 days later on a Monday. She became a Therapy Dog and is very precious to our whole family... I couldn't imagine life without my girl, Pearl..... I often wonder about the young couple....I pity them...they were never able to know my girl. It is their loss.................. |
I have a person in my town that said "a boy and girl are you going to breed.... ah no, ones fixed other soon to be ohhh the money you can make. I would have took one"  (From a lady with 2 dogs chained up even with a fence muzzles one because she can not stand the barking) I felt sorry for the dogs... I even talked about bathing ours one day... her come back was... god heavens I NEVER wash mine maybe once a year 
I am just surprised how some dogs are treated... mine are my 2nd children. |
http://www.petvideo.com/play.cgi?showId=15718   |
rfloch wrote: But there are cases I will never understand. Barney, a horribly matted 8 year old I got some years ago who had been dropped off at the pound by someone's gardener like yesterday's unwanted trash. .
I totally understand your point of view - Patch wasn't neglected, but just not wanted - she was dumped by the breeder in a shelter to be euthenized because she was spayed when returned by the first owners and "wasn't any good because she couldn't be bred." She is my heart and soul - I cannot imagine life without her. She also is a certified therapy dog who brings comfort to many - I'd love to show her medal to the breeder for therapy dog of hte year. Almost a year ago I got Nellie from a vet's office who had been dropped off because she 'nipped' the family's little girl - the vet put her in quarantine for a week because of the alleged nipping. I was called and she was dropped off at my house. She smelled of urine literally took my breath. She was matted to the bone , her paws were so urine burned they were ulcerated, and her back leg was broken and never set leaving her with a limp. I almost cried at her condition. Needless to say she was at the groomers within 12 hours (when I went to pick her up the groomer held up a pelt that was just urine soaked - she was horrified), then to the vet's for a check up - all was fine, nothing could be done for her leg - she was not in pain. After a few months she found a wonderful home (via Ingrid's website) and is now living a peaceful and safe life with a loving family. As you said, what is the point of even having a dog if this is their fate. Everytime I think of Nellie, I thank god for rescue, but just hate the necessity of it all. |
Sheepie2 wrote: Almost a year ago I got Nellie from a vet's office who had been dropped off because she 'nipped' the family's little girl - the vet put her in quarantine for a week because of the alleged nipping. I was called and she was dropped off at my house. She smelled of urine literally took my breath. She was matted to the bone , her paws were so urine burned they were ulcerated, and her back leg was broken and never set leaving her with a limp.
She was with a vet for a week and the vet left her in that condition?!  |
rdf wrote: She was with a vet for a week and the vet left her in that condition?!
Yes. It was a disgrace. I asked later why she was brought to me in such terrible shape and they explained they couldn't do anything for her because she was quarantined for the alleged nipping of the little girl. I do not know how a vet's office could look at her everyday with all those matts and the worst stink I've ever smelled. |
| My Bella has been here for 2 months now. She wasn't a rescue in the sense that she was neglected. Her breeder brought her to me because she couldn't behave in any household she had been in. She had to be alpha, and couldn't in her previous homes. So far she is able to boss the puppy/8 month old boy around. I hope we never have any trouble like she has had before, but I love her and we will work it out. Just gotta nueter that pup when he gets too sassy. I plan to in 4 months anyway.
I have had rescues before...even with the baggage they are appreciative to say the least. |
| After our first champion sheepie died we decided to adopt a rescue dog. And the rest is history. We got Lucky that was on "death row" (we drove to Alabama for him - heartworm positive, had bit a child, and spinal and back injury), then came Sam (from a small shelter in MO near St Louis - and yes we drove all night to get him - chained to a tree for the first 3 years of his life), and then London from a shelter in FL (taken from a home with 17 other dogs).
And now - we foster all those others that need a temporary home to heal and to learn how to be loved and play. So far in the past year and a half there has been: Marcus, Rosie, Johnnie, Mia, Zach, Libby, Sandy, and now Josie. They are all have a piece of my heart. I wouldn't have it any other way. |
| As heartbreaking as it is to see sheepies at the pound or SPCA, I wish people like my Phoebe's former family hadn't dismissed the idea. The circumstances point to her being abandoned at a rest stop (and probably tied up so she wouldn't run after the car).
Thing is - a lot of poeple don't know there are rescue groups out there and some don't want to have to do anything face to face so you see some pretty inhumane behaviour sometimes. |
PhoebesMum wrote: As heartbreaking as it is to see sheepies at the pound or SPCA, I wish people like my Phoebe's former family hadn't dismissed the idea. The circumstances point to her being abandoned at a rest stop (and probably tied up so she wouldn't run after the car).
What feelings of abandonment Phoebe had watching them drive away - how could they do that, it is so heartless. Dropping her off at a shelter would have been more humane. How did she finally land with your family. she is beautiful, too. |
| Animal Control caught her after about three months of "running at large". We don't have a pound or SPCA in the town I live in so they took her to a farm where they knew the woman would keep her until a home was found.
I went to see her there and, originally, was going to foster her so that she could have a better chance. (She was seriously underweight and severely mated and I was pretty sure no-one would take her that way). She really is a wonderful dog. The only hold over from her previous life are abandonment issues if we're out. She's not at all bothered at home but if we go out, she has to be able to see me at all times. After awhile, she decided that this was home and who were we to dispute that? |
PhoebesMum wrote: She really is a wonderful dog. The only hold over from her previous life are abandonment issues if we're out. She's not at all bothered at home but if we go out, she has to be able to see me at all times.
After awhile, she decided that this was home and who were we to dispute that? Good you provided a home for her. What a lucky dog to have such comfort. I moved recently (bought a house where Patch now has a fenced yard and a wonderful sunroom) - Patch has only lived in the townhouse so this move has really confused her. Her attachment issues are surfacing - she runs into the garage and sits next to the car waiting to go "home." She should be fine soon, but is having a terrible time. Before I got her she was shuffled back and forth about 6 times and it took her a while to realize she had come home for good. Like Phoebe, she wants me in her sights but only if we are out - no one could ever hold her back if they held her leash and I walked away - she would drag them to hell and back get to me. I've had her now 5 years, she is my heart. |
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