I was lying in bed this morning with my dog, Roxy, curled up by my side, thinking about yesterday and how I had only spoken to strangers at the dog park.
Is Roxy a border terrier? My very first dog when I was 12 was a border. I related to your words. I was gut punched when I read about that poor dog locked in a crate starving to death. Thirsty. And the other two dogs coming and going through the doggy door. Likely checking up on it wondering why it couldn’t get out. I’m still sick thinking about it. We’ll be reading more and more about these situations as boomers die. Or carted off to hospital. Dog left at home in confusion. I recently read about neighbours wondering why the dog next door was howling. After three days they checked only to learn the owner was hospitalized and not returning. At this point in reading, I wanted to slug the EMS people for not following up on the poor dog!! Maybe it’s time for me to write the SPCA and get stickers printed for the front doors. ICE contact:—— I know they have them available for house fires.
Either the SPCA or the Humane Society has those stickers. I used to be involved in animal rescue, and we used to hand out the window stickers to alert emergency workers to animals in the house, and a refrigerator magnet where you can write the ICE contact for your pets along with vet information.
HI Dawn, good idea and great to hear you worked with animal rescue. Me too. I fed wild birds at Wild Arc, part of the SPCA and now a rehoming coordinator for Elder Dog: fosters and adopters with elder dogs or vice versa. Did you know the SPCA, at least here in Canada, doesn't allow anyone over 65 to adopt? Grrrr.
That age issue is a conundrum. I was with a very small rescue, and like all rescues, they required the dog be returned to them in the event the adopter couldn't keep them or they passed away. Any time a dog was returned, it was hectic because we only had so many foster homes and quite often didn't have an open spot. Thus we screened adopters carefully. One time, lady in her early 80's wanted to adopt a puppy under one year old. Given life span averages, she would have to live well into her 90's to keep the dog throughout its lifetime. I helped the director draft an agreement that required the lady to have a designated person to cosign the adoption papers so that the dog would have a home after she died. Her reaction was quite negative and she did not adopt the pup. We offered to adopt a senior dog to her at a reduced rate, but she did not adopt from us and purchased a pup from a mall storefront instead. Did we do the right thing? I thought so at the time, but I just don't know.
It's tricky, every human and every dog is different. We have so many rules, stipulations, and no charge, in fact Elder Dog pays vet bills for fosters. Sounds like you did the right thing, but I think a dog returned is harder on the dog than staying in the shelter. Heart-wrenching.
Yes, it is always hard on them when they are returned. I seemed to specialize in the hard-to-place dogs. They would go on a two-week trial and come back to me half the time. My Gidget girl was deemed unadoptable, which was best for both of us. We're coming on 14 years together. She is 16 now.
Hi Irene, good question - Roxy is a rescue and I also think border terrier mix. DNA said boxer, German Shepherd and pitbull, with a bit of mutt. Makes you wonder about how often this happens - dog left alone.
I no longer have a dog, but I can relate to your situation. No responsible pet owner would want their pet to suffer, especially in a horrendous way like starvation.
Reaching out to friends to agree to watch out for one another is a very good move. Good you’re thinking about this, Jane.
Is Roxy a border terrier? My very first dog when I was 12 was a border. I related to your words. I was gut punched when I read about that poor dog locked in a crate starving to death. Thirsty. And the other two dogs coming and going through the doggy door. Likely checking up on it wondering why it couldn’t get out. I’m still sick thinking about it. We’ll be reading more and more about these situations as boomers die. Or carted off to hospital. Dog left at home in confusion. I recently read about neighbours wondering why the dog next door was howling. After three days they checked only to learn the owner was hospitalized and not returning. At this point in reading, I wanted to slug the EMS people for not following up on the poor dog!! Maybe it’s time for me to write the SPCA and get stickers printed for the front doors. ICE contact:—— I know they have them available for house fires.
Either the SPCA or the Humane Society has those stickers. I used to be involved in animal rescue, and we used to hand out the window stickers to alert emergency workers to animals in the house, and a refrigerator magnet where you can write the ICE contact for your pets along with vet information.
HI Dawn, good idea and great to hear you worked with animal rescue. Me too. I fed wild birds at Wild Arc, part of the SPCA and now a rehoming coordinator for Elder Dog: fosters and adopters with elder dogs or vice versa. Did you know the SPCA, at least here in Canada, doesn't allow anyone over 65 to adopt? Grrrr.
That age issue is a conundrum. I was with a very small rescue, and like all rescues, they required the dog be returned to them in the event the adopter couldn't keep them or they passed away. Any time a dog was returned, it was hectic because we only had so many foster homes and quite often didn't have an open spot. Thus we screened adopters carefully. One time, lady in her early 80's wanted to adopt a puppy under one year old. Given life span averages, she would have to live well into her 90's to keep the dog throughout its lifetime. I helped the director draft an agreement that required the lady to have a designated person to cosign the adoption papers so that the dog would have a home after she died. Her reaction was quite negative and she did not adopt the pup. We offered to adopt a senior dog to her at a reduced rate, but she did not adopt from us and purchased a pup from a mall storefront instead. Did we do the right thing? I thought so at the time, but I just don't know.
It's tricky, every human and every dog is different. We have so many rules, stipulations, and no charge, in fact Elder Dog pays vet bills for fosters. Sounds like you did the right thing, but I think a dog returned is harder on the dog than staying in the shelter. Heart-wrenching.
Yes, it is always hard on them when they are returned. I seemed to specialize in the hard-to-place dogs. They would go on a two-week trial and come back to me half the time. My Gidget girl was deemed unadoptable, which was best for both of us. We're coming on 14 years together. She is 16 now.
Hi Irene, good question - Roxy is a rescue and I also think border terrier mix. DNA said boxer, German Shepherd and pitbull, with a bit of mutt. Makes you wonder about how often this happens - dog left alone.
It's comforting to know I'm not the only one who goes down those rabbit holes... <3
With our monkey brains.
It would only take me a few hours to find you
If I don’t see a text or your car move and no Roxy in the window I’m coming in❤️
I no longer have a dog, but I can relate to your situation. No responsible pet owner would want their pet to suffer, especially in a horrendous way like starvation.
Reaching out to friends to agree to watch out for one another is a very good move. Good you’re thinking about this, Jane.
i will give you some time to finish that thought
Haha! I can’t remember the thought.