yes, that's heard quite often in rescues.

yes it's sad to hear that

 

well i remember when i brought lexie home at 9 wks, she drank brackish water outside and got sick as a dog (only had her 5 days) had to tend to her night and day,and i said to myself "what did i get myself into". I have had dogs all my life, but getting a gsd is a whole other ball game then a mini doxie, i forgot how much work goes into bringing up baby Now i grew up with shepherds, but you forget or at least i did, how much time and money it takes, that said i grew up in a house where a dog was a part of the family, a lot of people are not of that mind set. My mom is a huge animal lover and so she passed that gene onto her offspring

 

Fair enough. But the amount of people who use this excuse is insane. It's as if none of them bother to research the breeds, or think about the fact that ANY dog needs time and training. I am very emotionally unstable at the moment, and when I kept seeing this excuse repeated on CL and in rescues I was just like

 

It should be up to the breeder to screen the new owner, the responsibility lies upon the breeder to do their puppies justice. Rescues would be less burdened if the ones pumping out the puppies would just do right by the poor babies.
Of course it is all about the almighty $ or lack of....ooops litters because someone who 'adopts' can't afford to S/N.
This economy does add to the problem, but if I look on PF right now, it is dominated by pits or pit mixes needing homes. CL too. They just get pushed around and around til they end up who knows where.

 

It should be up to the breeder to screen the new owner, the responsibility lies upon the breeder to do their puppies justice. Rescues would be less burdened if the ones pumping out the puppies would just do right by the poor babies.
Of course it is all about the almighty $ or lack of....ooops litters because someone who 'adopts' can't afford to S/N.
This economy does add to the problem, but if I look on PF right now, it is dominated by pits or pit mixes needing homes. CL too. They just get pushed around and around til they end up who knows where.

All very true, sadly.

 

I have to agree with Lauriehd...I did a lot of research but I think there's a difference between reading that this breed takes extra training effort and actually having an 8 week bundle of craziness peeing on the floor and trying to eat your house. Bear and I had some bad moments...but now that we stuck through it I couldn't live without him! I definitely understand having "buyers remorse" but I too wish people would just stick with it!

 

I have to agree with Lauriehd...I did a lot of research but I think there's a difference between reading that this breed takes extra training effort and actually having an 8 week bundle of craziness peeing on the floor and trying to eat your house. Bear and I had some bad moments...but now that we stuck through it I couldn't live without him! I definitely understand having "buyers remorse" but I too wish people would just stick with it!

Koda was quite insane herself for a while. But I just hate how many people decide to give up. Especially so quickly. Even when Koda was tearing up my shoes and destroying my entertainment center I couldn't imagine giving her up lol!

 

I find Craigslist very depressing sometimes. Lots of people that want to get rid of their dogs for whatever reason. Then, sometimes in the middle of people wanting to get rid of their dog....there is always one lonely post where somebody is trying to find their lost dog...even offering a reward.

I think some people just make mistakes. Dog and human sometimes are not the prefect fit together. I think it is very possible some people really do care about rehoming their dog to help the dog. No amount of research can ever truly prepare you for some dogs.

 

I find it sad to I have a dog from the pound(I know not craigslist but on the line of what is being talked about) and the dog was in the pound twice. The owner picked him up the first time but just left him there knowing the pound is a high kill shelter. At the time I was looking for a GSD but I couldn't let a 6 month old puppy in the pound be put down!! So I know have two labs. They drive me crazy half the time but I love them and could NEVER think of giving them up. Bentley(pound puppy) is now 2 and is in 4-H with me and is a really good dog in the house. I don't know why someone could ahve given him up....any dog for that matter(unless of course they desperately needed to re-home the dog).


Sorry for the long post it just aggravates me!

 

Onyx has some good points.

Also, on CL, there are people who don't want to be identified as the breeder of the puppies so they don't get flagged (right?) so pretend they bought the dog, there are people who go to shelters, take dogs from other CL posters, breeders that are "liquidating" for low prices, and flip them for higher prices. So they will use whatever reason is easiest (they think) for other people to understand.

 

People don't think of pets as family, just animals that are disposable. I was at the grocery store this weekend and overheard a woman telling her friend how she brought her cat to the pound because she changed the paint scheme in her house and the cat clashed. I couldn't bite my tongue and bitterly retorted "hearing that, I'm glad I got a calico, she matches everything." closely followed by some not so polite debate and the fact that her "pet" was probably killed as not many people want to adopt an adult cat. I normally ignore and dismiss people like that but I was having a bad day and she was the final straw. I understand your frustration. Some people really are no better than the "animals" they mistreat.

 

I absolutely agree. People are so selfish. They buy a pet on a whim and when it doesn't give them instant gratification, they dispose of it thoughtlessly. IMHO, there are worse people even than the ones who dump their pets at the pound or at a rescue. Those people put the dog outside on a chain or in a fence and neglect it. They don't spend time with it. They starve it and let it go for long periods without water. They don't give it good shelter. Any animal is better off at the pound where at least there is hope for a happy ending.

 

Everybody has great points. I would rather them have a chance at the pound than suffer on a chain or starve. But honestly, I would rather people just didn't get them if they don't plan to care for them. It drives me bonkers!

Caity- I more than likely would have snapped the same way.

 

people
People
PEOPLE
Please don't ASSume that everyone understands all the initials.
What are CL and PF?

 

CL is Craigslist (craigslist.org)
PF is Petfinder (or so I am assuming lol)

 

I doubt shannon 'knew' this happened to the OP, but it is something that happens more than I care to hear about unfortunately and a valid observation.

Unfortunately alot think "it will never happen to me" when it does, the money isn't there and/or they are shocked to see such a huge bill slapped in front of them.

People need to be more aware of the expense that can be incurred when getting any kind of pet because 'stuff' DOES happen, while one is never truly prepared for an emergency they should be aware of the big chunk of change it may cost.

 

Oh, I agree her point is well made and a very valid observation. I wasn't diminishing that in any way.

And I wasn't trying to be snarky either, although after reading my post again, I can sure see how it could be taken that way.

I meant no harm and cast no aspersions or accusations.

I was simply pointing out that you had just had that experience yourself.

 

I figured that was it Thank you for the consideration to my experiences.

 

I guess I am one of those people who has given up a dog to rescue. Bash me all you wish. We had him for over a year. From the start he had nerve issues. What was most concerning for us was his fear aggression, especially towards children. Even if he had never bitten a child, we had an infant in our home to think about. We took the dog to vets, trainers, and behaviorists. We spoke with breed fanatics in our area as well as with breed rescue. We were unable to work him through his issue. When it came down to it, our child was our number one priority and any children that might be in our household. So we chose to rehome him through a breed rescue that does in-home fosters and then adopts out-with full disclosure of our dog's problem.

Dogs are a lifetime commitment, but there are also times when your home may not be best for the dog. It is best to come to that realization sooner and work to find a more suitable home for the dog. I have worked with breed specific rescues and humane societies so I have about heard it all. But there are those who have real reasons and are truly heartbroken for having to part ways with their pets.

 

Well, your reasoning was just. If it was the best for your child and the dog, then kudos to you for being able to do what's right by both.

 

One other reason I find ridiculous is when people say, "We're moving to a place that doesn't accept pets." Riiiiiiight... There was probably 50 other locations that did allow pets and you chose one that doesn't. I don't think it's the place that's to blame.

BTW, this wasn't meant to bash the thread about the GSD/Lab mix. I just hear/read this reason too often. I had to move to an apartment but I did my homework to make sure our dog was coming with us. There's no real excuse unless you suddenly developed severe medical problems caused by having a dog.

 

Agreed. Or if, like above, the dog is a threat to you or your children.

 

ya'all should try being a rescuer that works w/animals w/issues. there's nowhere to send them when you run out of options. if i'm not willing to take that "final option", then they still stay right here and i still have to deal with whatever the issue is. i've never handed an animal off to rescue or to a shelter or had but one animal destroyed for aggression in over 25yrs. i watched my mother dump animals throughout my childhood, seen my brothers do it, seen my uncles abuse and neglect animals, swore from childhood it would never be me, and it never has been.

i pray every day that the situation never arises that i'm put in that situation. i hate reading, i hate the situations that people find themselves in that require this, i hate the lack of options available, i hate that it all comes down to money. what i REALLY hate is the apathetic society we've built ourselves where neglect and abuse of the helpless and innocent is so common that it doesn't even raise eyebrows or make the front page anymore. the elderly, infants and children, victimized women, defenseless and voiceless animals, these are the long-suffering of our modern societies. and as of yet, there doesn't appear to be a darn thing anyone can do to solve the problems. it's heartbreaking.

dw~

 

what i REALLY hate is the apathetic society we've built ourselves where neglect and abuse of the helpless and innocent is so common that it doesn't even raise eyebrows or make the front page anymore. the elderly, infants and children, victimized women, defenseless and voiceless animals, these are the long-suffering of our modern societies. and as of yet, there doesn't appear to be a darn thing anyone can do to solve the problems. it's heartbreaking.

dw~

Sad truth... That's more of a political issue as well as the media's fault. All I see are celebrities on front pages.

GSDLover729. Definitely if there's a threat to my children. Even then, I probably would go through all other options before giving up the family pet. If it's allergies, there are medications for that. I have no kids yet so I really have no experience in the matter so I apologize if I'm taking the issue too lightly.

 

Lil I'm only 17 so I have no children either.

 

I think there are valid reasons to rehome animals. I'd rather see an animal rehomed rather then neglected; at least the owner realized they weren't fit for a pet. That said, I do think the majority who rehome today do not have valid reasons. I couldn't even imagine rehoming one of my dogs... they are a part of my family.

 

That's my point There are so many people out there with pitiful excuses to just throw their pets away.

 

That is one more reason we decided to go with a collie vs another GSD this time around. Collies are much easier to find housing with than GSD's since shepherds seem to find their way onto most "aggressive" breeds lists in our area. Our landlord allows them, but DH and I have been discussing possibly moving to MT. If that were to ever happen, it would be much easier to find housing without a GSD until we bought our own place.

Since getting my GSD in 2008, I have never lived anywhere that has not allowed the breed. And most likely I wouldn't ever move to a place that wouldn't allow GSD's. But in the event my husband lands a high paying job elsewhere after he graduates in a few months, it is one less thing for us to worry about when it comes to making the decision to stay where we are or move.

Unfortunately, with the high unemployment rates some states are facing, I can see how people may have to choose between lower living costs and their beloved animals. Again, I don't think people should be criticized for having to give up their pets for thos reasons. I live in a state with one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country, but we still have that happening. In fact, one whole community in the oil region is being kicked out of their houses due to the oil industry. Housing is very limited in that area. So it's either live on the streets with their pets or take what is available and rehome them. According to many of you, that would make them poor pet owners if they chose the latter?

Not everything is so black and white all the time.

 

According to many of you, that would make them poor pet owners if they chose the latter?

Not necessarily. Again, those are the circumstances that are outside of one's ability to manage. If I was to get evicted for god knows what, I have no control over that. If my house was set on fire, I have no control over that. If the oil companies found a way to force me out of my home, I can't do anything. Whatever the case may be, if I can't do anything then desperate times calls for desperate measures.

What I am referring to are those pet owners that knew when their lease was up but decided to to search at the very last minute resulting in them giving up their dog. Or the ones that did plan ahead of time but deliberately, decided to go with the home that doesn't allow the breed for convenience.

 

What I'm getting at is people seem to be judging the ads as the owners are all irresponsible. It isn't necessarily so. If I had to rehome my dog because I was losing my home, I certainly wouldn't be pouring every piece of information about my situation into the ad. I probably would post something similar to I am moving and can't take him with me.

I'm not trying to stir the pot here. I just hate when an entire "group" of people is judged based on the bad seeds. It probably stems from the flak I get for having given up a dog to rescue before people hear my reasonings. They just assume we didn't want him anymore or got bored with him and wanted something "newer" which couldn't be further from the truth.

 

There are valid reasons to rehome your pet but not nearly enough to justify the number of ads on CL. I was reading through the ads one night at work and on ad horrifyingly enough said that if someone was willing to take the person's older dog, he would like to trade him for a puppy.

People are mean and they suck and I hate them.

 

That is awful. My husband and I were listening to our local radio ads one time and this family was giving up their elderly GSD. If someone didn't take him, they were just going to euthanize him. They didn't want an old dog. I was very upset and don't understand how people can be so callous.

I guess I don't see all the crazy CL ads you guys do which is probably the result of living in such a rural state. I see a lot of online puppy ads, but much fewer for older pups/dogs. I live in the biggest city in our state and here's our local CL pet classifieds. fargo / moorhead pets classifieds - craigslist As you can see, there probably isn't as many as some of the larger metropolitan areas from other states.

 

As has been said, there are valid reasons to rehome. Even if the person who wants to rehome their dog has a crappy reason, maybe the dog is better off with someone else because of that "animals are disposable" mentality.
Still, it doesn't take the sting out of those ridiculous excuses and complete lack of thought before getting a dog.
Working at my local shelter was heartbreaking and exasperating. I couldn't believe how many animal returns there were. A dog or cat is not like a shirt you take back when you decide it doesn't fit or look right. I have respect for people who rehome dogs when it isn't the right fit with their family- but only when they've actually worked with the dog and it would be better for everyone. It happens. It's certainly not the majority of the time, though.
I saw so many people give up dogs that are highly unadoptable. When the general public wants a small dog or puppy, they certainly aren't going to go for extremely elderly, sick, or aggressive dogs. They tell themselves they did the right thing and their dog will find a good home. When I saw those dogs being relinquished I just wanted to knock the owners upside the head and tell them to have the guts to go have their dog euthanized themselves, so they're at least with people they know while they die.