ever give back a dog. UPDATE

that you knew you weren't ready for?


Little Sam is really sick...this wasn't the normal puppy behavior (even though at first it was), he just spent the third night in the animal hospital..the lady said that all his siblings were sick too..she was crying, I was and DH had tears. It was awful seeing Sam so so tiny in isolation with an IV pole. I never knew that pets even got IVs! All mine never had to do that...she doesn't think he is going to make it much longer..he is not responding and the rest is just too get into. I didn't know how attached we were until last night when I walked into pet isolation. I guess that's it for now..

Message edited 5/29/2010 10:19:51 AM.

Re: ever give back a dog

I don't understand. Why would you get a dog if you knew you weren't ready for it?

Re: ever give back a dog

No I have not. I made sure that I was ready for my dogs when I got them. I read books, asked people, etc, before getting them.

Where is the dog from? Where would it be given back to?

I have to say that I think if someone isn't sure they can give the dog a great life, better to give the dog back ASAP then keep it until it gets older and may become much less likely to be adopted (assuming it is currently young).

I can't imagine where the dog is from (maybe a rescue or a breeder) that would actually take the dog back. I do hope it's not a shelter, where the dog will wind up sitting forever. I would sooner find the dog a home myself if I had to then put it back in a shelter.

Message edited 5/27/2010 12:12:16 AM.

Re: ever give back a dog

My stepdad had two dogs for a really long time. The one used to bark a lot and his neighbor would always complain and threaten to do something about the dog himself if the barking didn't stop. Well one day my stepdad came home and instead of being two dogs in the yard, there was only one and the neighbor had apparently gone upstate for a vacation. My stepdad swears that the neighbor took the dog and let it go somewhere.
Fast forward fifteen years, the other dog got really old and had passed away and my stepdad was devastated so he wanted to get another dog right away so he goes to North Shore Animal League and they ask him about his history with animals and he was completely honest, had paperwork on the dog that just passed away and told them the story of the stolen dog. Well they didn't believe his stolen dog story and said they couldn't give a dog to someone who couldn't prove what happened to another dog and then proceeded to call all the other shelters on the island and he was "blacklisted" from getting a dog... even though he was honest and a super dog lover.
He goes into the city at the recommendation of a friend and gets this dog and was told that he was returned 2 times already. Needless to say he found out why when they got home, the dog is certifiably nuts, jumps on everything and won't let you near his food or tries to bite your hand off, and literally eats couches. We think he was abused though :( but as crazy as this dog is, my stepdad would never ever return him but said if he happened to ever get out of the yard and run away and after looking for him couldn't find him it wouldn't be the end of the world lol.... he loves him though he really does lol

Re: ever give back a dog

I honestly did question my sanity at certain points when I got my puppy over a year ago. I had dogs all my life but never one on my own- where everything was my responsibility and honestly I felt overwhelmed at times. My Daisy never slept- I was sleep deprived, and housebreaking was a huge challenge. But looking back now I am so happy I stuck it out- she is my best friend- the sweetest, happiest little monkey God ever made, and I could not imagine my life without her. Good luck, there is a light at the end of the tunnel- I promise.

Re: ever give back a dog

Personally, no. And we wouldn't. But it took us weeks and months to find our dogs and we made sure we were fully informed about the 15 year responsibility that we were getting into (times 2), and about the dogs themselves. How their personalities and exercise/grooming/feeding needs fit into our family.

My opinion has changed on this subject over the years of reading here how people have given dogs away for various reasons. If the owners cannot give the dog the care and needs it deserves, I think they should give it up to an agency that will not kill it and will find it a better home. The animal deserves that, which is something I've been surprised to find not everyone realizes.

However, if that is the case, it is also my opinion that the surrendering owners should take a hard look at their lives and not buy or adopt an animal until they can, without a doubt, properly care for an animal, come what may. Even if that means never having one. I once asked someone "why" they wanted an animal and all of their answers were about what THEY would get out of it. It's very telling. Then they get an animal that has actual needs of their own and they're shocked that they have to work at it. That they're not exactly what their dream animal is like. And they stupidly blame the animal, even though they invest little to no time training or exercising it.

About the PP who mentioned the shelter not letting someone adopt a dog - many shelters and rescues consider owners who leave their dogs outside all day unfit to adopt. Considering his new dog has aggression issues and he's leaving it unobserved for hours in his backyard, joking about not caring if it runs away, is extremely dangerous and irresponsible. The fact that the city agency let him adopt doesn't mean that they're right and NSAL is wrong, it just means they don't have as many restrictions. If they didn't fully disclose why the dog was returned twice, to make sure he was capable of providing the training this dog so desperately needs, it doesn't sound like they care as much about where the dog is going and I think that's despicable.

I know what I'm saying is aggressive in itself, and I apologize for rocking the boat here. But I felt it needed to be said because I think it's a powderkeg of a situation. Many people look at shelters and rescues as nitpicky for the reasons they deny people but I believe they are picking up on danger signs that may add up to a bad situation for the animal. These dogs that were already abandoned at least once deserve a forever home, and to have all their needs cared for. That's where my passion comes from, truly not from a place of malice towards your Stepfather.

Message edited 5/27/2010 9:22:07 AM.

Re: ever give back a dog

Posted by sunni2552

I honestly did question my sanity at certain points when I got my puppy over a year ago. I had dogs all my life but never one on my own- where everything was my responsibility and honestly I felt overwhelmed at times. My Daisy never slept- I was sleep deprived, and housebreaking was a huge challenge. But looking back now I am so happy I stuck it out- she is my best friend- the sweetest, happiest little monkey God ever made, and I could not imagine my life without her. Good luck, there is a light at the end of the tunnel- I promise.

Re: ever give back a dog

Posted by Alexandra17

Posted by sunni2552

I honestly did question my sanity at certain points when I got my puppy over a year ago. I had dogs all my life but never one on my own- where everything was my responsibility and honestly I felt overwhelmed at times. My Daisy never slept- I was sleep deprived, and housebreaking was a huge challenge. But looking back now I am so happy I stuck it out- she is my best friend- the sweetest, happiest little monkey God ever made, and I could not imagine my life without her. Good luck, there is a light at the end of the tunnel- I promise.

thank you so much..i really was thinking I was going crazy but your post sounds just like my story! it helped so much

Re: ever give back a dog

My puppy Rocky is ten months old now...hes gotten so much better!! When he was like 6 months old he wouldnt leave me alone..always biting my feet and arms. Following me everywhere! I couldnt even go to the bathroom or in the shower without him poking his head in. I got used to exercising him a lot and i get him so tired that when we got home hed just sleep. Hes a lot more independent now too. Hes my buddy!

Re: ever give back a dog

How old is the dog ?
Where did you get him from ?


If he is a puppy, he needs time to settle down. Give him time.

I always adopt older dogs because I know I dont have the time for a puppy.

I adopted my dog at 2 years old and he was a complete moron for the first year. Seriously, jumping on everyone, everything. Destroying everything in the back yard. It took a year to settle down.


I really believe you have to give a dog 1 year to adjust and understand the rules of the house.

Message edited 5/28/2010 9:41:46 AM.

Re: ever give back a dog

Getting a dog is a HUGE adjustment, you need to give yourself time to work it out. Each time I got a new dog (I had this experience with two dogs, I got 1 1/2 years apart) I totally freaked out after a day or two at home where I was like "omg what did I do"... I am the biggest animal lover in the world and had dogs my whole life but it can be a totally overwhelming experience. Granted with my dogs I had specific issues - the first puppy became an issue with my landlord, and the second puppy was a problem because the first one turned out to be dog aggressive and went to attack the poor guy every time he dared to walk around. So my freak outs were more like "this is never going to work, what am I going to do" and I cried to my dad and he told me to bring them over and they ran around my dad's yard and worked out their problems and I managed to calm down.

All of my friends around my age (mid/late 20's) that got a dog had a similar freak out moment at some point when they got the dog, having one can be a lot of work and can be overwhelming even if you go in with the best intentions. But you stick it out because you made a commitment to save this dog and give it a happy life - and trust me, you start to bond with them and they give you that feeling you expected to get having a dog that you may have been missing at first, and it's so amazing. So just hang in there, FM me if you want to vent/need advice, I know how awful it can feel when you start to feel trapped and like you made the wrong decision but you will be so happy when the dog is settled in and starts to calm down. I don't judge you because I know how it feels. Getting some training for the dog may help too? Good luck!

Re: ever give back a dog. UPDATE

I think that when you actually get the puppy you always dreamed of its so normal to be scared and have doubts... I felt that way also.. I fell madly in love with Lola after she was fully trained and I sat back and looked at her for what she had become.. The most wonderful dog any human being could ever have.. I even had doubts after I gave birth to my dd .. I KNOW I have said what did I do ! More than once.. Its because you get over whelmed and scared.. And not to mention you entire life completely changes and your exhusted !!! I think its so normal and dont feel guilty.. If you dedicate yourself to this little baby and give him the attention and training and care that he needs .. Its one of the most rewarding things in the world and you actually start to say how lucky YOU are to have been blessed with such a wonderful pet... You wont be able to do enough for him .. I really think you should stick it out unless you are totally not willing to go through the beginning hard part.. Good luck

Re: ever give back a dog. UPDATE

Wait...what's going on with your pup? What do they think is wrong with him? Praying that he pulls through

Re: ever give back a dog. UPDATE

He has been at the hospital now going on 6 nights..they say "intense" virsus but I think it's parvo (i think that is it)..my husband is more sad than I have ever seen him...I had to cover the dog stuff because he can't look at it..

Re: ever give back a dog. UPDATE

where did you get your dog? how do they know the rest of his litter is sick too??
praying for Sam!!!
keep us updated!

Re: ever give back a dog. UPDATE

honestly if i adopted a sick animal and it wasn't a normal illness I would go back to the shelter or adoption person and ask for them to pay the medical bills. No way should you be responsible for that medical bill.

If the vet says they pet will most likely have major medical issues in the future due to this illness I might reconsider it but if its only temp i would just make sure I was reimbursed the initial medical needs.

Re: ever give back a dog. UPDATE

Re: ever give back a dog. UPDATE

Re: ever give back a dog. UPDATE

I agree..I really don't want to go yell at her or anything but part of me is so jaded now..it's hard to explain..looking back, she was like oh let me check your references, called ONE of them, then said you are ok, come get the dog whenever...

Re: ever give back a dog. UPDATE

Posted by Goobster

Posted by Alexandra17
she never cashed the adoption check..and yes, she is now getting billed from the 3rd night on.

After he gets out (hopefully) he is going to live with the mother and get better...
This was the biggest learning experience..we are still the "parents" and he still is our baby but on top of being sick, he was taken from the mother too early..it was soooo many issues..Everyday we check on him..we say prayers and blow kisses..

I hate to say this but whomever you "adopted" this puppy from sounds like they clearly don't know what is best for a puppy/dog, to take it away from it's mother too soon.

Re: ever give back a dog. UPDATE

Sam is adopted..he was a rescue from kentucky..she said that the are a state where they don't care for their pets as much as NY does..or at least that's what she said..I am still waiting on an update.

Re: ever give back a dog. UPDATE