You've got to take this dog NOW!

Ingrid · 01-27-2012, 02:22 PM

Working in dog rescue is tough, but it gets tougher when someone contacts you about a dog that is described as "really nice but...".

Today I received an e-mail about a young GSD whose owners said was a beautiful and wonderful purebred but had bit their young child and the husband (several times), was generally nervous and fearful, was kept outside chained in the backyard for the last 6 months "because the fur was too much to handle", never had had any vetting or training of any kind, had a large untreated hernia and "limped a lot". And in closing, "We're moving today. We need you to come and pick up the dog now." - the now was in bold caps. Reluctantly I returned this person's call to tell her we would not be able to take her dog into rescue immediately but would try to have someone come to her house to evaluate the dog in-person in the next few days. She became angry, yelled at me ("What kind of a *#$$ rescue are you?") and hung up.

Emoore · 01-27-2012, 02:23 PM

I think the name "rescue" makes some people think we're like 911. You call and we're there in a few minutes to solve your problem.

msvette2u · 01-27-2012, 02:28 PM

Oh wow. I could go on and on.
I love people who try to make their problem MY problem.
And then there's the "WELL then we'll have to DROP IT TO THE SHELTER" (like they are saying they'll strap dynamite to it and light the fuse).
I say "Well then good luck with that because they do not take owner surrenders".

RebelGSD · 01-27-2012, 02:29 PM

Happens here all the time. I had someone scream at me and then call every 10 minutes to yell into the answering machine until the system was full. They had a lifestyle change. She threatened to have us investigated and report us to everyone from BBB to ... How would someone dare not to take their beloved pet off their hands yesterday!

robinhuerta · 01-27-2012, 02:31 PM

Ignorant people believe that it is the rescuer's obligation to help them with their unwanted pet......they have no clue that it is the rescuer's choice to help these poor unfortunate pets......the true obligation belongs to the owner.

Jax08 · 01-27-2012, 02:31 PM

I hate owner surrenders. Hate them. Spend all the time and energy trying to help their dog and either they change their mind, make demands of you that are out of line considering they aren't paying you a salary.

msvette2u · 01-27-2012, 02:33 PM

We rarely take them, we did the other day because these folks went into the homeless shelter. We take dogs if their owners die or go into nursing homes.
Other than that, or if it's a Dachshund (and one in fairly good health) we aren't taking OS at all.
We reserve our spots for truly needy dogs, not ones that have options left.

RebelGSD · 01-27-2012, 02:39 PM

Yes, they love the dog so much but they cannot have a dog that bites people. But we have to make sure that we find their biting dog a home that loves them as much as they do.

msvette2u · 01-27-2012, 02:45 PM

Or they love it so very much they MUST find it a new home because they are gone so much.
Yet someone applies for a dog, and tells us they are gone the same amt. of hours the person who "must" give up their dog is, yet they'll make it work, because they want the dog.

Ingrid · 01-27-2012, 02:50 PM

Do people really believe that threatening a volunteer dog rescuer is going to help them find their "dumped one" a home? SIGH...

01-27-2012, 02:22 PM	#1 (permalink)
Ingrid Master Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Minnesota Posts: 650	You've got to take this dog NOW! Working in dog rescue is tough, but it gets tougher when someone contacts you about a dog that is described as "really nice but...". Today I received an e-mail about a young GSD whose owners said was a beautiful and wonderful purebred but had bit their young child and the husband (several times), was generally nervous and fearful, was kept outside chained in the backyard for the last 6 months "because the fur was too much to handle", never had had any vetting or training of any kind, had a large untreated hernia and "limped a lot". And in closing, "We're moving today. We need you to come and pick up the dog now." - the now was in bold caps. Reluctantly I returned this person's call to tell her we would not be able to take her dog into rescue immediately but would try to have someone come to her house to evaluate the dog in-person in the next few days. She became angry, yelled at me ("What kind of a *#$$ rescue are you?") and hung up.

01-27-2012, 02:23 PM	#2 (permalink)
Emoore Crowned Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: North DFW, TX Posts: 9,215	I think the name "rescue" makes some people think we're like 911. You call and we're there in a few minutes to solve your problem. __________________ Rocky vom Backyard- 10 years young Kopper vom Felssclucht Bach - 17 months At the Bridge: Cash van der Animal Shelter 2006-2010

01-27-2012, 02:28 PM	#3 (permalink)
msvette2u Crowned Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Beautiful Pacific NW Posts: 5,533	Oh wow. I could go on and on. I love people who try to make their problem MY problem. And then there's the "WELL then we'll have to DROP IT TO THE SHELTER" (like they are saying they'll strap dynamite to it and light the fuse). I say "Well then good luck with that because they do not take owner surrenders". __________________ Ruger v. Sunnyside Stray 4-11-11

01-27-2012, 02:31 PM	#5 (permalink)
robinhuerta Knighted Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Illinois Posts: 3,225	Ignorant people believe that it is the rescuer's obligation to help them with their unwanted pet......they have no clue that it is the rescuer's choice to help these poor unfortunate pets......the true obligation belongs to the owner. __________________ Huerta Hof German Shepherds www.teamhuertahof.com ....where breeding is still considered an art....

01-27-2012, 02:33 PM	#7 (permalink)
msvette2u Crowned Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Beautiful Pacific NW Posts: 5,533	We rarely take them, we did the other day because these folks went into the homeless shelter. We take dogs if their owners die or go into nursing homes. Other than that, or if it's a Dachshund (and one in fairly good health) we aren't taking OS at all. We reserve our spots for truly needy dogs, not ones that have options left. __________________ Ruger v. Sunnyside Stray 4-11-11

01-27-2012, 02:29 PM	#4 (permalink)
RebelGSD Crowned Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,706	Happens here all the time. I had someone scream at me and then call every 10 minutes to yell into the answering machine until the system was full. They had a lifestyle change. She threatened to have us investigated and report us to everyone from BBB to ... How would someone dare not to take their beloved pet off their hands yesterday!

01-27-2012, 02:31 PM	#6 (permalink)
Jax08 Crowned Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: NNE PA Posts: 14,337	I hate owner surrenders. Hate them. Spend all the time and energy trying to help their dog and either they change their mind, make demands of you that are out of line considering they aren't paying you a salary.

01-27-2012, 02:39 PM	#8 (permalink)
RebelGSD Crowned Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,706	Yes, they love the dog so much but they cannot have a dog that bites people. But we have to make sure that we find their biting dog a home that loves them as much as they do.

01-27-2012, 02:45 PM	#9 (permalink)
msvette2u Crowned Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Beautiful Pacific NW Posts: 5,533	Or they love it so very much they MUST find it a new home because they are gone so much. Yet someone applies for a dog, and tells us they are gone the same amt. of hours the person who "must" give up their dog is, yet they'll make it work, because they want the dog. __________________ Ruger v. Sunnyside Stray 4-11-11

01-27-2012, 02:50 PM	#10 (permalink)
Ingrid Master Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Minnesota Posts: 650	Do people really believe that threatening a volunteer dog rescuer is going to help them find their "dumped one" a home? SIGH...

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