Not truly a rescue, but...
I mindlessly scan Craigslist daily just to see what people are up to and arguing about on the pet section...anyway I happened to see an ad for an OES. It's since been flagged - isn't everything - but I saved the page down before it did...now, hubby and I were originally looking for a puppy but after further thought, realized we might rather a rescue or adoption or whatever, even an older OES. The ad is as follows: Quote: Zoe is a female, spayed, 10 month old Old English Sheepdog. She is a very sweet, high energy dog. She needs to be in a home with another medium-large breed dog with lots of energy to spare. She does not do very well with small dogs, it's not that she is agressive but she tries to play too rough. She does do fine with cats. She does need more training. I care very much about where she will be going so I insist on doing a home visit and references. There will be a rehoming fee. The pictures of her are with her summer haircut. Send me an email if you think she sounds like a dog that could be for you.
I'll attach some photos if I can figure out how. She does appear to have a very short 'summer cut.' I e-mailed the woman who said she'd taken the dog off its original owner's hands (with his consent) as she'd heard from a friend that he kept her tied up outside all day and she knew it wasn't a good situation. The man happily gave her up for a little cash, and the woman had the intention of keeping her but has small dogs, who can't handle the OES' boisterousness. Now, after speaking with the woman who has her, I feel like the situation is genuine and the dog is spayed, vetted, etc. but just needs a home where she is a better fit. The woman is asking a lot of questions of us and genuinely wants to make sure she's considering responsible homes that are ready for an OES and so far has been open with us and answered all of my questions. That's good... I guess I have just learned to be wary of Craiglist postings, but I feel that if we meet the dog, the current keeper thinks we're a good fit and it all jives, is there any reason we shouldn't go for it? Edit: Hm, pics...ok they are in my photo album, but not approved yet. |
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I don't know. there are those here who will say no. But if I were considering it I might ask for the vet's name and call and see if they can corroborate the story  |
| If the rehoming fee isn't toooo great.....otherwise I'd worry about the story being true.
Rescues come with a bit of baggage..........no bonding, emotional confusion. Be patient, realize you have a "youngster" who has not had the ideal early development so expect the worst and be grateful if it doesn't occur. Can't wait to hear more! |
| oh yeah, we definitely plan on checking with their vet and it sounds like she wants to check with ours. It was something I wished I'd done with our first dog!
I do want to consider everything - so any of the reasons people would say 'no,' I'd really appreciate hearing. edit: yeah, we're definitely ok with the extra work and love it takes for dogs who haven't had the best chance...I have never worked with a rescue but have several years of experience in humane society work, and what I learned from all those dogs will never leave me. my bigger concern is where this one came from and whether what i've been told is true! |
| I find you can usually tell if someone's story is genuine if you just keep asking questions. If they get irritated by the questions, chances are they just want to make a quick sale and are coming up with some story. If they answer your questions and have questions for you, it is probably legit.
How much is the "rehoming fee"? That can usually tell you a lot! |
| this is a very good point! i've asked to meet the both of them at least once if we go forward, so we plan to talk a lot more about zoe's past in that case.
the fee was $300 as the woman had her spayed, shots etc (which I will also check when I call her vet - they can tell me that, right?). I have seen larger fees on dogs that size from rescues and shelters, so I figured it wasn't too bad. It's tough because I want it to be a good and true situation, and if it's not we'll have to back out, but either way this woman is still trying to get a new home for this dog, you know? |
notisolde wrote: the fee was $300 as the woman had her spayed, shots etc (which I will also check when I call her vet - they can tell me that, right?). I have seen larger fees on dogs that size from rescues and shelters, so I figured it wasn't too bad.
It's tough because I want it to be a good and true situation, and if it's not we'll have to back out, but either way this woman is still trying to get a new home for this dog, you know? Agreed. We had a person who was on a waiting list for a rescue dog from us come across a CL ad and I encouraged her to pursue it. She stayed in touch throughout the process and the woman's screening process of her (and others who were also interested in the dog) was so good and so thorough I felt like I should be taking notes. The rehoming fee was less than our adoption fee (which is typically $300 now I think) and the dog - young, spayed, healthy and sweet - whom she got to meet at the lady's house first, was quite wonderful and a good fit. (The woman ended up placing the dog with her) Every situation is different and you're very (!) wise to do your homework. But some CL rehomings work out very well. And, yes, Her vet can talk to you about the dog as long as she gives him/her permission. That's the way my vet works at least. Kristine |
| here are the pics
(psst, thanks for approving  )
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ah she looks so sad in that first picture but she is a cutie and I am hoping for the best for you and her  |
| She's absolutely beautiful. She has that same sweet face that my Asterisk has. I hope you are able to take her. |
| thank you i hope things work out that way too!
will def keep you all updated. |
| It sounds like you are being cautious and doing the right things. I would say proceed as you are doing and continue asking questions. It could be just the right dog for you. |
| Well, we're going to visit tonight. Talking more to the 'foster' mom, she said that when she picked her up, Zoe had a collar on that was too tight so they had to shave around her neck, and she has possibly been abused and in the least, maltreated, but has adapted to the woman's home rather well and gets on well with everyone - with the exception of being 'too much' for the small dogs she already owns. We'll see. I have a lot of questions about where she came from, though! Going to get vet info and stuff tonight too so we can call. Seems to genuinely just want to give this girl a good home. Crossing my fingers at least |
| Good luck! Keep us posted!! |
* Capt. Obvious Danger wrote: Good luck! Keep us posted!!
Ditto -  |
| I hope the visit went well. She looks sweet and Jean is right a little 'sad'! Hope she is the right dog for you. Let us know! |
| waiting........... |
| Wondering how the visit went? |
| We did meet her last night...I must say she is more gorgeous and sweet than I'd imagined! She bounced right up to our 3-year-old son immediately, and just loved him - after the lady had told us she hadn't been around kids and had been kind of timid around the preschoolers she saw the night before. He is so gentle though, and kind for which I am thankful, especially in moments like these!
We brought our dog too, to see if they got on. Zoe had a little moment of nerves when Kobe showed up on her yard, which threw Kobe off but once we let them walk around a bit and have a couple 'words,' they ran around the fenced yard and Kobe eventually realized Zoe wasn't holding grudges and just wanted a friend. Never before has our stubby little shar pei looked so short and tubby! Zoe is 10 months, 75 lbs which sounds about right? Her coat has grown a bit since the pics were taken, and she needs a bath but she is such a beautiful little (big) girl! She was so friendly, and so so so sheepie. I'm getting a fax of her complete medical history today and will call the vet once I receive that...we talked a lot more about where Zoe came from and she was happy to answer all of my questions. So long as it checks out, I think she will be joining our family next week once we've moved into our new house.
Thank you all for your advice, caution and encouragement! I'm hoping this continues to go well. She really is the sweetest girl! Edit: Holy run-on sentences and overuse of commas, sorry! It's still morning  |
| That sounds really good!
I hope it all checks out ok and we can say....... yay to another forum member with an OES in MN!!! |
 Glad it went well!!  Hope all checks out!! |
| how great a new baby hope it works out |
| Thanks guys! And I'm curious...the pink under her eyes isn't just the photo color. What causes the pink-rimmed (especially under) eyes? Is it a puppy thing or just some dogs don't have pigment there? |
| Some dogs never get the dark pigment all the way around their eyes. It's nothing to be concerned about, though. I'm glad things went well with your visit and I hope everything checks out with the vet when you call.
for you! |
| We've actually passed along Craig's List posting to people looking for dogs if we felt they were "qualified". Every dog deserves a home where they are loved and wanted and rescues don't always have fosters to take them in.
A word of caution regarding something that happened to us recently: I got a call from a woman who asked if we had dog named "Rover" (name changed to protect the innocent) in our rescue. No, we did not. Then she proceeds to tell me that some time ago her ex-husband got custody of "Rover" in their divorce because her housing arrangements didn't allow pets. When she finally found a place that accepted dogs (1-1/2 yrs. later!), she asked her ex-husband to return Rover. He said he'd placed an ad on Craig's List and someone took the dog. The woman then puts an ad on Craig's List asking if anyone knew the whereabouts of a dog named "Rover" that her husband had given away without her consent. A member of the family who got Rover off Craig's List saw the ad and contacted the original owner. He told her that the dog didn't work out so they surrendered him to rescue. (the family had Rover for six months and during that time he had bitten a couple of their small children.) After hearing the entire story I did recall the dog and told the former owner that he had been placed in a fabulous home over a year ago. She burst into tears and said all she wanted to do was see him. Because Rover had bitten the children, the family who found him through Craig's List considered having him euthanized. We happened to have someone quite dog savvy with no children who was willing to adopt him. He's living a fine life now and there have been no incidents of bad behavior. I've expected to hear back from the woman looking for "her" dog but so far she hasn't called back. The woman who acquired Rover through Craig's List signed our Owner Surrender form as she was the legal owner at the time. Any complaint that Rover's original owner had should be with her ex-husband. At least she knows that Rover wasn't euthanized, which should offer her some consolation. Anyone considering the purchase or "adoption" of a dog through Craig's List or similar on-line sources needs to be very careful. If you can get original purchase agreements, contracts, vet records, kennel club registration, etc., that's a good way to prove that the person offering the dog is the true owner. A written adoption agreement with the surrendering owner is a good idea as well. It should go without saying to be extremely careful when meeting a stranger when buying or selling anything, especially over the internet. Just can't be too careful. |
| Congratulations on your new addition! Please take as much photos as you can of your new family! |
| To add to what Nita said - before you officially get him you should also make sure the vet checks for micro chips so any owner issues can be checked. |
| Well, just an update -
Everything did check out, as we'd hoped...so we took the sweet girl (now "Katie") home on Friday after we moved. I didn't think to check about the microchip, but I'll definitely ask the vet when we take her in this week! We did have an adoption agreement, which I think made both of us feel a lot better. Katie has been super from the start, and about as sheepie as one can get. She did try to drink a lake on her first day, and had a couple 'excitement' pee dribbles but hasn't had a problem in a couple days (she is very unlike our sharpei, who is vocal when she needs to go - Katie has virtually no signs whatsoever and we have to go down INTO the yard just to get her down there, and then she MIGHT pee if she thinks of it). Anyway, she listens much better than I expected her to. Sometimes a little too excited to, but she took to her bed right away, listens when we say "no" and has been very kind and nice, if in need of a little no-paw training. At 6AM on her first morning with us, she grabbed her leash and came up to us, stub a-wagging! She's a very smart girl! She does stink even after a bath; as I understand upping the quality of her food and protein intake will help that? Just the 'dirty dog' smell. She did so well during a bath, stood so still while I combed the tangles and didn't complain at all even when our son grabbed a comb and tried to 'help.' She was a little intimidated by the blow dryer, though. I had to just use my hair dryer on cool. Maybe a dog one would be quieter? The next day she decided to roll around some dirt. Of course. She's so resilient - she sat outside on the 4th and watched the fireworks, loves being outside, and has such a happy disposition. She lets our son roll all over her, and then she rolls all over him. She's trying to be gentle and give our cat space, and she's trying really hard to win Kobe's affection too. Kobe is just used to being the only dog and has had a year to establish her place in the family, so she's taking some time to adjust. Hubby is the 'pack' leader to her, so when he's gone it is a little tougher. They're getting better, and it's mostly Katie's great amount of fur (beards on men freak her out too) and excessive use of front legs that freak Kobe out but Katie has been really obliging and seems to be ok with Kobe being the boss. Kobe's only growling moments now are when we come in and Katie gets in the way of Kobe saying 'hello' to us. We may start enforcing an 'ignore' rule for now because Katie gets over excited in greeting us. They ran and played in the yard and sat hip-to-hip waiting for Daddy to come in from the garage last night, so that's big progress. So anyway, that's that. I'm very happy with her! She's a kind girl and so pretty. Can't wait till her coat is grown back! I say that now...as I'm bathing/combing her when it is, I may change my mind
I have a couple pics I'll post when they are approved We'll take more later. It's hard to get her to sit still! |
| Check her ears, too. That can make a heck of a stink if they're yeasty or infected. |
| Makes me smile reading your last post.
The stink may still be in the ears, teeth, anal glands. Takes awhile. Also you are right about better food should help. Skin glads and oil will lead to stink.....hope everything works out there. Yes, bath one day, roll in the dirt another, but at least you got the deep down dirt out. Do paws ever stop? Not in Jack's case. It if isn't the nose or voice, it's the paw. sigh....... Keep walking them together, away from the yard....leashes of course! Old "sharpie" will realize he's in a pack now, manners count. |
ButtersStotch wrote: Check her ears, too. That can make a heck of a stink if they're yeasty or infected.
True. The other reason dogs can smell is a yeast infection on the skin. You can google it, but i think the recommended treatment is Selsedine Blue shampoo. (I couldn't find it when we had an issue and used the Head and Shoulders Blue) You bath weekly for a bit and it is cleared up. |
| GAH! Ears! I keep looking at them and thinking "gotta do those" and keep forgetting! Thank you! I'm getting hubby to put it on the to-do list right now Kobe is due for her weekly ear scrub too. Freaking little shar pei ears. Katie's will be cake in comparison. Good idea on the shampoo! I had heard that and we planned to get it anyway if Kobe started scratching again. Selsedine Blue - this stuff? http://www.selsunblue.com/
Haha! Yes, dear little sharpie is getting there and amazingly they walk well together even when she was not overly thrilled with Katie's presence. They are behaving more like a pack now vs individually so we take that as a good sign. We realized at first we were being a little hard on Kobe when she was growling, which only made her threatened and left-out feelings worse. We praise her more now and now that her kitty friend is back home, she's really got more of a spring in her step and more tolerance for Katie. We try to give them equal attention and individual time. I know it'll take time but they're making progress. Katie's really been good through it all though. If I went into a new home and a peer gave me a welcome like that I'd be curled up in a corner bawling for a week! I know dogs work differently, but still! |
she is hard to get to sit still...always wants to be next to one of us! |
| What a beautiful girl! Congratulations on the new baby. My guy says affectionately "Once you go Old English nothing else will do". |
| thanks!! i can see why your guy (or anyone!) would say that
hooray, kobe and katie are bonding. over hole-digging.  kobe never realized she was a digger until she had a yard to dig in. great. haha |
| Cute pictures
Glad the gang is melding into a family. |
| Thanks for the update! I'm glad things are working out for everyone. Great pictures, too. She's a pretty girl. |
| Love 'Happy Stories'--she is a cutie! |
| Just catching up on this post - congratulations!! Katie is beautiful, and her one blue eye is on the same side as my Drez's was. We have always rescued, never started with a pup, and I wouldn't go any other way. I swear, rescue dogs are so much more appreciative of a good home and they usually turn out to be the best dogs!
Agreed about not ever being without a sheepie again, too. When we lost Drez last year, hubby mentioned something a few months later about getting a different breed, a smaller dog. I looked at him like he was nuts and just said - NO! When the time is right, we will get another sheepie. Then in to our lives came Sammie, who truly is the BEST dog around. Again - congrats! |
| Im sooo pleased things are working out for you guys. Just a word of caution,please do not take offence, but I would be very careful when your little one plays roll on Katie and vise versa,its very early days.
Debsx |
| oh we definitely are. i watch them all like a hawk! we were lucky with our 1st dog that she was so intuitive and instantly knew how to tone down the play and has always been very patient and even-tempered, but we're still learning about Katie and she about us. Plus she totally has no idea about her size or strength. I should give her a mirror |
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