"First Dog" Material...or Not?

The entire country is now immersed in a new presidential puppy. Bo, the quasi-"rescued" pure breed pup who was presented to the First Family recently.

Many are thrilled and now the stock for Portuguese Water Dogs begins its meteoric rise..... On the other hand, many in rescue are disappointed in the fact that a shelter dog was (again) passed over in favor of a bred for profit canine.

What ever side of the issue you find yourself on, here is a news flash: at any given shelter on any given day throughout the United States and beyond, there are literally hundreds (maybe thousands) of dogs that would have been suitable for adoption by a family with health concerns such as the First Family.

That being the case, the fact that they chose to bring a bred for profit pet into their homes is their business - their choice. I don't judge....but I can still feel for all those other dogs in shelters out there who didn't stand a chance when it came down to brass tacks. It's a shame one of them couldn't have benefited from the good will and intentions of an administration setting out to make grand changes all over; because right about now some changes in the public attitude toward shelter pets would be most welcome!

Felicia was one of our rescues, (an 8 year old Portuguese Water Dog mix!), who suddenly found herself quite literally kicked out of the house by the only people she'd ever known in her entire life.

Why? Well, the family got a new baby and Felicia was no longer the center of their universe.

It happens. A lot. So, poor Felicia not only lost her favored position as cherished pet, she was unceremoniously "sent packing" to live in the back yard where she became suddenly, and most unprepared, exposed to all the elements! (Not so happy a life for a pup who is deathly afraid of thunder storms). She was a mess both physically and emotionally when we took her in.

It doesn't have to be this way, however. There is a lot you can do to prepare ahead of time in anticipation of a new baby and the introduction of that baby to an existing pet. In fact, the ASPCA website has some good material on how to successfully introduce an existing pet to a new human baby. First, there is their on-line community where you can connect with and learn from others who have successfully navigated these same waters:

http://aspcacommunity.ning.com/group/dogsville/forum/topics/658300:Topic:757650

Then there is their Virtual Pet Behaviorist to weigh in on the subject of children and pets:

http://www.aspcabehavior.org/articles/141/Children-and-Pets-Living-Together.aspx

Urbandawgs (http://www.urbandawgs.com/), another favorite site of ours, also has a wonderful little pdf on preparing pets for your impending little bundle of joy:

http://www.urbandawgs.com/articles/diapers_and_dogs.pdf

Happily for Felicia, she found the most wonderful of homes (complete with a loving and devoted human) to live out her life in happiness and without fear. In fact, she is quite the lovely and pampered pooch now, with her very own doggie birthday party invites, etc.!

Felicia, we are so very happy for you and you loving "dad"...may you have many happy years together.

Oh, and as far as "First Dog" material....we think Felicia would have been a FABULOUS First Dog - even though she is not necessarily a pure breed (although we can't say THAT for sure, either! She may well BE a pure bred dog!). Also, she may not be so young anymore, either. The point is, what we're trying to say is this: in any given shelter on any given day through out this vast country are MANY other non-allergenic shelter pups, waiting and hoping for you to see them and say "yes we can!" adopt you.

Don't be seduced into thinking that the only way to guarantee a non-allergenic and pure bred dog is to go to a breeder. And if you do go to the shelter, remember that just because that shelter dog may be a bit over (or under!) weight, or matted and dirty, or older and a little unsure of themselves, don't just pass them up because you don't know their pedigree. Remember that this little "diamond in the rough" dog standing hopefully before you is potentially just the right dog for you and your family. Not only that, but you may very well be their last chance.

We have successfully placed hundreds of shelter and owner surrender dogs with new families and have virtually not had any returned due to exacerbating known allergy issues. It may take a bit of work and a lot of searching, but we know that somewhere in some shelter or neglected, unwanted and tied in some backyard is your very own "First Dog".

Remember how Felicia's dad found his "First Dog"....

.

Our Responsibility to Our Pets

My rescue companions and I have a soft spot for the cats and dogs who find themselves in the unenviable position of being in a cold, dirty animal shelter with nothing or no one familiar to comfort them. It doesn’t matter how they got there, it‘s just heartbreaking to see the fear and the need to be touched and comforted by a human hand.

Whether it was because their caregiver died, went into a nursing home or hospital (and the rest of the family didn‘t want to be bothered with that beloved pet left behind). Sometimes it is because the family moved and either could not take them or didn’t want to take them; or just because they are getting old and are requiring more medical care, possibly because their vision isn’t as good, or they are developing incontinence or maybe because the pet has become somewhat cranky and snappy (due to underlying medical issues).

Sometimes the owners or family of the absent owners just open the door and let the pet out to fend for themselves; or put it in the car and drop it off in the middle of nowhere; or tie it to a sign or shelter fence (some have even thrown these poor animals over the fence into the shelter grounds). Sometimes they call animal control to pick up “a stray” or they go to animal control with the pet and pretend it is a stray that they “picked up” or that wandered onto their property. Or worse yet, leave the abandoned pets in an emptied out home where they are imprisoned until a realtor, a concerned neighbor calls the police about a possible abandoned pet or the new owner or tenant finds them, sometimes in bad shape.

I often wish that those people who leave these pets in this way would be haunted forever by the faces we are forced to see after they’ve gone on with their lives, probably without a thought for the pain and suffering left behind.

At times there are legitimate reasons why people have to give up their pets, but there is never a legitimate excuse for running out on your responsibility to that animal. Sometimes the kindest and most loving thing to do for some of these elderly, terminally ill, sickly pets or pets with severe behavioral issues is to have them humanely euthanized by a veterinarian, surrounded by the people that they have always known and loved during their lifetime. It is a cowardly mistake to not face up to your responsibility toward that loving companion when they need you most; and it causes that pet the most unspeakable pain and suffering to have to reach the end of their days alone, frightened and feeling unloved in a dirty, dark and foul smelling shelter - or worse…

On the other hand, just because a pet is elderly or even sick is not always a reason to have it put to sleep if a good alternate home can be found. This is also a responsibility that the owners or the family of the owners need to take seriously. This means that AS SOON AS POSSIBLE (and not 2 days or a day before they have to be removed from the home as many people do!) you need to start asking friends, neighbors or co-workers, asking at local vets if they have clients who may be interested in adopting this pet, or contacting shelters and rescues to ask for them to consider taking the pet in to that shelter or rescue.

Most rescues are filled up and it may not be possible for them to take that pet in, but perhaps they could post that pet on their rescue site as a courtesy to you and screen potential adopters while you continue to care for that pet until an adoption can be arranged. Working with a rescue group also means being available to possibly bring that animal to adoption days or to make it available to potential adopters if inquiries are made on the pet. It also means being honest about that pet, its behavior and it medical issues, if any.

“www.petfinder.org” is a good place to look for potential rescues to help you to find a family for rehoming this pet or pets. Some of these rescues may have limited means to take in dogs, so be prepared to take this pet to a vet for updated shots; neutering or spaying; etc.

Even with the best of intentions and with a lot of hard work and some expenses on your part, sometimes no home is found for that pet. Then what?

You have a big decision to make at that point. Please remember what you’ve read here before you act next. That pet is depending on you.