i am totally heartbroken. i've got two 7ish year old mutts. they've been with us for about 6 years. recently we had some sadness in our family, and now we are moving to an apartment. my mom cannot walk the dogs even if they were allowed in the apartment, because she's got a really bad back. i'm moving out all together, and i can't be tied down to be the sole caregiver to two pretty large dogs. i'm too transient right now. how do you think we should go about this process of giving away our pets? they are big - 75 and 80 lbs. one is cool, calm, and independent. the other is the opposite, but he's gentle and loving, but he barks up a storm and he's afraid of bad weather. my heart is truly broken. does anyone know of a good organization that will aid in this process? i'm sure if they were younger, quieter, or smaller this would be much easier, but i'm afraid we are stuck having to do this. any suggestions would be great.
I'm sorry for what you're going through... however, there are some things you can do. I have seen many ads in the local newspapers for free pets to give away. Also, if there is a local "no kill shelter" then they will be glad to find the dogs good homes. Another option is Petfinder.com where you can list your pets. Good luck!
The only thing I can really suggest is -if you can- give any and all canadites for adopting a serious interview so as to find out what kind of home your dogs can expect. (keeping them both in the same home would be awesome if you can manage that) Ask questions such as.....do they believe in hitting or raising their voices to the dogs ( i would never leave an animal with someone who said yes to those questions -positive reinforcment only) Do they plan to keep the dogs for life?.......will they regularly see a vet? How much excersize will they get? What kind of food will they be eating? Where will they be sleeping? Will they ever be chained up to something? (my dog has a long chain outside that she only uses when she wants and for how long she wants..as soon as she barks to let me know she is done she's brought back in) How much personal attention will they be given? ....stuff like that. I just know that if I ever was forced into giving my dog away those things would be really important for me to know. So just giving it a mention. Hopefully you can find someone youself to take them....kennels are pretty stressful -esp when they are used to a real home. I'm so sorry for your situation......I wish you and your babies the very best~
thanks! yeah, everyone i mention this too seems heartbroken for me. it's just another one of those life lessons; i believe that from everything shitty comes something good, or at least beneficial. i will check out petfinder.com and will also place an ad in some papers. thanks so much for your help and ideas!
i wouldn't give them away to any body, I would take them to a no kill shelter. A good one. Shelters usually check possible owners and make them sign somthing to say, if the animals always remain the property of the shelter- then if the dogs are ever found to be mistreated they can be rescued easily. Also i am sorry but dogs are used in vivisection experiments and sometimes these dogs are ones who are taken to government shelters or given away 'free' to any old body. You dont want to take that risk of them ending up in a horrible lab somewhere. Also giving them away to anyone is asking for trouble, because more horrible people are after a totalyl free dog than people who actually care and will spend money on them. Our old next door neighbours- they got a dog free from someone who was getting rid of him, poor thing his new owners were horrible and he got mistreated MY advice-Take them to a no kill shelter!!!!!They are responsible and I would say your dogs have a way better chance of getting nice new owners this way. The shelter will also try and get them homed together if they are closely bonded. Well the cat shelter i helped at did this all the time, often 2 cats would be freinds and they would stay together. The shelters might have a waiting list of a feww weeks or months before they are able to take them, but it is worth waiting.
I agree with Clawsy. I'm not sure how the States run shelters, but I've worled in plenty here in the UK, and each one has it's own vetting system for particular candidates for adoption. These people have alot of experience behind them, and know which person would be right for which animal. They usually have a 'home check', hwere they go to the prospective owners home to see if it suitable for the animal. Also, if you want the dogs homed together, you can specify this with the shelter, and they can be sure the dogs are homed together.
definitely go with a no-kill shelter if possible. also, petsmart has a pet adoption program. check it out! i would not trust anyone to take my pets. there are some real weirdos out there, as others have said before. a shelter will go to great lengths to find a good, safe, happy home for your doggies.
I'm sorry to hear this. I went threw the samething. I had two large dogs (75 to 100 pounds). I moved, my mom moved and my dad couldn't take care of them cause he's a truck driver and he's only home on the weekends. I couldn't take them cause most apartments wouldn't let you have large dogs plus I already had a cat. 3 animals, 4 people, a small two bedroom apartment doesn't work. Lucky for us we knew a women that loved animals. She spent all day at her house outside with her animals and caring for them. She also adopts animals out. So, she offered to take them and find them good homes. It helped me feel better knowing she'll take good care of them and she would adopt them out to really good homes. So, it would probly help if you can get ahold of some place that does something like that. Takes animals in and adopts them out to people. They check the people out really good normally before they give them the animals. If I could I would take them for you but I still living in a apartment. I miss having dogs. I can't wait to get my own home so I can have two dogs again.
thanks... i can't even imagine them being in a shelter at all. they both came from a shelter. they've been so spoiled here that living in a cage, for any amount of time, would be pure hell. i need to find them nice homes. i'm workin on it. i posted on petfinder.com and got a few iffy responses. next i'll have to make signs and hang em round town. boo.
I understand how you feel I would not want to take my dog to a shelter either. Our community recently had problems with an ASPCA and had to stop abuse there. Yes, we had to stop the ASPCA from abusing animals. Anyway, my advice would be to keep the dogs if you can. Take the time to think about it and make sure you really want to give the dogs away. After that if you are ceratin there are no other options then I suggest you charge something for the dogs. Someone who is willing to pay something is more likely to take care of it. People who want dogs for baiting or experimentation purposes won’t pay for them. However, if you interview the family carefully then feel free to give the dogs away. I am so sorry to hear you are in this situation it must be heart breaking. I could never give my pets away.
Please do not place your pets in the free column! Pets are 'adopted' and used for bait/training in dog fighting! It happens all the time here in Georgia. Folks can seem really nice,be aware!
well, today i found a couple who is in love with the big fat blonde dog. they love him so much; he reminds them of their recently deceased chow. they were literally ready to take him tonight. based on my own gut, and all of your advice, i told them we'd need to wait till sunday, when my mom and i will go over there with the dog and check the place out. the people are totally totally animal people - they are more enthusiastic about pets than anyone i've ever met. however, due to that, they already have 2 cats, 2 dogs. i know that buster will be quite loved and will receive special attention despite all the pandemonium. i'm not sure about him with cats. i'm still worried about his brother, who is harder to place. but, you know, this has given me confidence. i've hung up really catchy signs, and am getting great responses. i'll let you guys know what ends up happening!
