Please please please when someone comes to this forum to ask about relinquishing a dog, please do not belittle that person. I know everyone on the forum means well for the sake of the dog, but those of us involved with rescue animals know how desperate people can get--desperate to the point where they will destroy the animal, or leave him at the grocery store in a box, or throw her off the highway. I am not saying anyone who posts to this forum would--in fact, the people who turn to this forum are doing the right thing asking for advice. I do know it is tempting to say, "What the heck is wrong with you, how can you abandon your dog?" But if we can just stick to--as many do--gentle advice like, "is there no other solution? Then try . . . " then at least we won't risk the person shutting down and doing something that will cause irreparable harm.

I know I am risking some harsh criticism from some folks on the forum, but I work with rescues daily, and I know that if Finn's rescue organization badgered people about relinquishing their Chis, we would risk losing those defenseless babies rather than trying to hand their desperate owners a lifeline.

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I agree. A lot worse can be done to a dog than trying to find it a more suitable home. A person coming on here to ask for someone to help them find a home for their dog could have easily dropped it off on the streets, at a shelter, or given it away to the first person to respond to an ad. At least they recognized that they're not an ideal home for that dog, and they want something better for the dog. They're trying to find a good home and not just whoever happens to ask for the dog. They know when they sign up to this forum that they are likely to be criticized and blasted for trying to find a home for their dog, but they come on anyway trying to do something to give the dog more than what they can provide.

I have 3 rescues and other rescues that have now passed away. I am glad that the breeders who gave up my yorkie and mini poodle didn't shy away from the rescue organization that they went through for fear of being judged, hassled, and made to feel bad. I don't care that much if they do deserve to feel horrible and ashamed. I hope they feel so awful that they never get other pets in the future. I care more that they didn't do something worse to the dog(s) they gave up. It would have been so much easier for them to throw a dog out on the streets or to give a dog to the first person to come by.

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I agree!! Sometimes it just doesn't work out. If someone is not happy with their pet...then by all means let someone else have it that will treat it right.

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Thank you Jan

Amen! No matter the family life the dog has had before I was contacted, I never judge the person handing over their dog to me. They are doing the best for the dog now. I am always polite and respectful, educate a little if they are open to it, if not, I take the dog and walk away. Throwing blame and getting all up in their face just makes them run and dump the dog at the pound or worse. You have your opinion, and you love your dogs, I get it. But don't jump on someone that is thinking about bettering the life of their pet. Even I have had to let go of a rescue that I had had since she was 4 months old, she was just too aggressive and attacked one of my other dogs, ripping open her shoulder, neck and ear. Things happen.

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Thank you Jan for the wonderful siggy!

I just read this post after venting on Chandler's thread. I agree with you 100%.

The shelter that I work in here in Florida specializes in taking in
abuse cases that other shelters "do not feel qualified to handle".
Bad things happen to animals when owners feel they have nowhere
to turn to.

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Life is but a dream...



"Saving just one dog won't change the world, but it surely will change the world for that one dog." - Richard C. Call

That is so correct--when people get desperate, the animals suffer. ;{ So Sad. but the good news is animals forgive and they bounce back--the lucky ones that is. I say to Finn almost every night, "Do you remember what it was like not to be loved?"

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